Obituary of Lt./Col Walter P. Schlagel

Lt./Col Walter P. Schlagel of Warwick, NY a retired Air Force officer and school bus driver, entered into rest Thursday February 21, 2013. He was 88. The son of the late John and Alvina Preis Schlagel he was born Dec. 16, 1924 in Warwick. Walter was a 1942 graduate of Warwick Valley High School and attended Texas A&M and Florida State University with service commitments. He entered Army service Aug. 2, 1943, and earned wings 1st as a gunner and next as a bombardier / navigator in WWII. His training was in B-17 and B-24 aircraft. Walter next served as a radar observer in B-29's. In 1951 he flew a combat tour in B-26's in Korea 3rd bomb, 13th squadron, and earned his pilot wings in 1954. He had over 9,000 hours of flying time in some 20 different types of aircraft among those were the T-33, F-84, F-86, B-25, B-26, B-47, C-47, C-54, T-29, C-121 and the C-130 which he flew for a year from Nov. 1963 – Nov. 1964 in Vietnam. He was awarded 10 Air Medals and 22 other awards, decorations, citations, commendations and battle stars. Survivors include his wife of 66 years Gloria Ball Schlagel, at home; 2 sons John Schlagel and wife Patricia of Cummings, Ga; Walter Schlagel and wife Mary of Warwick; 2 Daughters Sue Ann Schick and husband John of Westtown; Mary Lou Johnston and husband Robert of Warwick; 8 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Sunday February 24, 2013 from 2-4 PM at T.S. Purta Funeral Home 690 Co. Rt. 1 Pine Island, NY 10969. Funeral Services will be held 4pm on Sunday February 24, 2013 at the funeral home. Rev. Kenneth Susskraut will officiate. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan 800 Stony Brook Ct. Newburgh, NY 12550.