Walter Clark "Walt" Speas Jr.

COLUMBIA - A memorial service for Walter Clark “Walt” Speas, Jr., 73, will be held at 4:00 p.m. Friday, May 13, 2016, at Bethel United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the funeral and immediately following the service at the church. A burial will be held at a later date at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Harrisburg, PA.

Walt died Tuesday, May 10, 2016. Born April 11, 1943, in Harrisburg, he was a son of the late Walter Clark Speas and Linda Mundorf Speas. He was a graduate of Central Dauphin High School, class of 1961, where he was a member of the Track Team and the Marching Band. As a former Boy Scout at the Progress Church of God, Troop 79, Walt attained the rank of LIFE scout and served as a Scoutmaster of Troop 79 for 10 years. As a member of the Order of the Arrow, he attained the rank of VIGIL member. Walt was also a member of the Westshoremen-Bonnie-Scotts Senior Drum and Bugle Corps. Upon graduating high school, he worked for Sears in Harrisburg until March 1964, and again from January 1968 until December 1969. He was a member and Past Master of Euclid Lodge No. 698, F & A M, in 1987, now merged with Robert Burns Lodge No. 464, both in Harrisburg, PA, since September 25, 1979.

Walt served in the US Air Force from April 13, 1964 until January 10, 1968, leaving with an honorable discharge and the Rank of Sergeant. After the Air Force, he was the Assistant Coach for the Penn Gardens Girls Softball Teams from ’79 to ’85. Employed by A.M. International, 1969 to 2000, formerly Addressograph-Multigraph, Walt moved to Columbia in April of 1987 as District Service Manager. The company merged with A.B. Dick Company in 2000, and was later bought out by Presstek Company in 2006. He retired from Presstek Company on September 10, 2010.

As an active member of Bethel United Methodist Church, Walt was the President of the Men’s Club and B.U.M.S. He was also a member of the Chancel Choir and Hand Bell Choir.

Surviving are his wife of 49 years, Bonnie Miller Speas; daughters, Lesley Speas Blackwelder (Stephen) of Fort Mill, Pamela Lyn Speas, Suzane Marie Speas and Patricia Hellen Boggs all of Columbia; grandson, Zachary Andrew Blackwelder; and sister, Arlene Speas Klawitter of Harrisburg, PA.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a sister, Sharon Lee Speas; and a brother-in-law, Bob Klawitter.

Memorials may be made to Bethel United Methodist Church, 4600 Daniel Drive, Columbia, SC 29206.