Walter F. Piff Jr.

Walter F. Piff, Jr. 87, Colonel United States Army, retired, passed away on June 16, 2023 in Clearwater, FL. He was the son of the late Walter and Alvera (Stravino) Piff of Allentown, PA. Colonel Piff moved to Florida from Germany in 1987, after serving thirty years in the United States Army. He graduated from Liberty High School in 1953, attained his Bachelor’s Degree from St. Bonaventure University in 1958 and a Masters in Business Administration from Babson College in 1973. He is also a 1979 graduate from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA. He served with the 7th Infantry Division in Korea and the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. Colonel Piff served three tours of duty in Germany, most as a Nuclear Weapons Maintenance Officer, in various command and staff positions. These assignments included Commander of the 197th Ordinance Battalion in Fischbach, Germany and Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the 59th Ordinance Brigade in Pirmasens, Germany. His last two years of service (1986-1988) were spent as the European Logistics Assistance Officer, overseeing the introduction, training and maintenance of an array of new military equipment into Europe. His awards included three Legions of Merit, two Bronze Stars and three Meritorious Service Medals. He was a member of the Military Officers Association of America, the U.S. Army War College Alumni Association and served a as volunteer tax preparer for the AARP Federal Income Tax Assistance Program. From 1989-1999, Mr. Piff embarked on a second career as Manatee County’s (Florida) Fleet Services Manager. In 2008, he published a book, From Poppendorf (Austria) to Allentown (PA) and Beyond, in which he traces the lineage and activities of the Piffs from 1888 to 1966. His survivors include three daughters: Deborah Kulp (Harrison) of Greentown, PA, Michelle Wagner of Hellertown, PA and Valerie Belle of Clearwater, FL, sister: Marie Jorgensen (Kermit), three grandchildren: Ryan Kulp (Lauren), Desiree Kopec (Anthony) and Melissa Wagner all from the Lehigh Valley, two great-grandchildren: Cohen Kulp and Kaden Kopec and the Sunset Lounge, Clearwater Florida extended family. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 10 A.M. in the J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home, 16th and Hamilton Sts. Allentown. A time to receive family and friends will be on Saturday, from 9 A.M. to 10 A.M. in the funeral home. Colonel Piff will be interred with Full Military Honors at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Whitehall, PA. He will be interred together with his parents, wife, Rose and his brother.