Melvin L Reitz

Dr. Melvin L. Reitz, 89, of Kutztown, died Wednesday, June 15. 2011 in the Phoebe Berks Health Center, Wernersville. He was the husband of Ruth E. (Krause) Reitz.

Born in in Leck Kill, Northumberland County, PA he was a son of the late Lewis E. and Ida M. (Gottshall) Reitz. He was educated in the Upper Mahanoy Township School System. Dr. Reitz graduated from Penn State University, University Park, in 1942 with a BS in pre-medicine curriculum. He enlisted in the Army Reserve Corp in 1942 and entered the medical curriculum at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. In April 1943 he enrolled in the Army Specialized Training Program and graduated with an MD degree in March 1946. He served his internship at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, from April 1946 to July 1947 entering active duty in US Army Medical Corp in August 1947. He served two years at the Station Hospital, Ft. Knox, KY and was discharged from active duty as Captain in 1949. He practiced family medicine for 14 years in Tower City before assisting in establishing the Tri Valley Medical Center, Valley View, Schuylkill County, where he practiced family medicine from 1963 to 1984.

He was a former member and past president of Tower-Porter Rotary Club, former member of Masonic Lodge at Valley View and the Harrisburg Consistory. He was a member of the Schuylkill County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He was school physician to Porter Tower School System; on the staff of Pottsville Hospital; and, courtesy staff of Good Samaritan Hospital, Pottsville. He served as a member on the Drug and Alcohol Executive Commission of Schuylkill County from 1986 to 1991 and the 1986 chairman for the Tri-Valley Charities annual fund drive. He was a member and past president of the church council at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Tower City, and Trinity Lutheran Church, Valley View; and, a present member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Kutztown.

He is survived by Wife, Son, David K. husband of Zanna (Lindner) Reitz, Cambridge, MD; Daughters, Linda S. (Reitz) wife of Dr. Ward G. Becker, Kutztown, Marian L. (Reitz) Snyder, Coopersburg; Grandchildren, Margaret Reitz, Rebecca Reitz Crotti, Susan Becker Hillman, Matthew Becker, Laura Snyder; and 2 Great Grandchildren. He was predeceased by Granddaughter, Johanna Snyder in 1990.

Services are private at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions to the ELCA World Hunger, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, PO Box 71764, Chicago, IL 60694-1764. Arrangements are by the Ludwick Funeral Home, Kutztown, PA.