Bud was born March 25, 1925 in Pittsburgh, Pa. to the late Lester Grant Shontz, Sr. and Bernice Yakel Shontz. He is predeceased by his two sisters, Margaret Kennedy Foyle and Mildred Ewart. His family history is traceable eight generations back into America’s history. His ancestor, Christian Shontz arrived in Pa. in 1717 and at least 16 Shontz family members served with Pa. regiments in the US Civil War. Their names are on the Pennsylvania monument on the Gettysburg battlefield.
Bud began his life during the Great Depression on the North Side of Pittsburgh, Pa. His family later moved to Wilkinsburg where he attended Wilkinsburg High School and met the true love of his life,
Ruth Montrose (Shontz).
In July 1943, Bud enlisted in the U.S. Army and was sent to Normandy via Omaha Beach in 1944. He served in Germany, Belgium and France with the 1st Infantry “Big Red One” during the height of WWII. He fought his way through the winters of 1944 and 1945 in the dense enemy controlled forests of Northern Germany and Belgium, including the Battle of the Bulge. Private Shontz was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic achievement in Germany. He repeatedly exposed himself to intense enemy fire and hazardous terrain to deliver urgently needed ammunitions, thereby facilitating his Company’s advance and seizure of an important objective. Bud also was awarded two Purple Hearts for his wounds sustained during his service. By the grace of God, Bud was able to make it safely home and marry his high school sweetheart, Ruth, on Valentines Day 1946. They were happily married 67 years until her death in 2013.
Continuing on in his courageous service oriented life, Bud joined the Penn Hills Police Department in 1954. During his career there he saw the need for a specialized division to help the youth in the community, rather than incarceration with adult hardened criminals. Bud equipped only with a high school education, prepared a grant proposal and presented it in Washington, DC to seek funding to start such a program in Penn Hills. He was successful and used the funding to create and staff the new juvenile division of the Penn Hills Police Department in 1964. He was the Lt. in charge of this division and helped many youth in the community to a more promising future. At the peak of Penn Hills growth there was also a need for a narcotics and detective division and Bud became the commanding officer overseeing those divisions along with the juvenile division. Lt. Shontz worked constantly with the schools to help maintain a safe environment for all. His heart was always with the children and youth in the community. Bud retired from PHPD in 1979 with 25 years of accomplished service to the community. He saw the need to help the older retirees after he retired and founded the Penn Hills Retired Police Association to help improve their benefits and recognize their lives.
Bud’s community services continued in life when he first joined the Masonic Blue Lodge February 25, 1960. He quickly progressed to that of a Master Mason in April 1960. Prior to subsequent mergers this was Lodge #766 aka the Penn Justice Lodge and today is known as the Pitt Lodge. Following the obtainment of Master Mason, in December of 1960 at the Syria Mosque Bud became a 32 degree Shriner while also being admitted as a member of the Scottish Rite and the PA Consistory.
After Bud’s wife, Ruth, retired from the Penn Hills Schools, they began making their dreams come true by moving to Florida and building a new home there to enjoy their retirement. Bud enjoyed his lakefront property as he was an avid fisherman and helped stock the lake for others to enjoy as well. He liked gardening and sharing his citrus crop, as well as playing golf and spending time at the ocean. He also worked passionately in his daughter and son-in-law’s business in Orlando helping to make it a success.
Bud will be remembered by many, for his caring and generous spirit and his joy of life and deep love for his family. His love and devotion to them will never be forgotten. He was their constant source of inspiration and strength to believe in themselves and their abilities.
Left behind to cherish his memory are his son, Larry Shontz and wife Gloria, and his daughter, Melissa Shontz and husband Gary Marchese, and his four grandchildren: Lexis and Hunter Shontz, and Daniel and Maggie Marchese.
Interment will be Friday, April 20 at 1 pm at Churchill Cemetery, Churchill Rd. Pittsburgh, Pa. with Lutheran burial and full U.S. Army military honors.
Contributions in Bud’s memory may be sent to the Police Helping People Daily (PHPD) Fund c/o Penn Hills Police, 12245 Frankstown Rd. Pgh, Pa. 12535 Attn: Detective Trogler
Expressions of sympathy may be shared with Bud’s family at www.healyhahnfuneralhomes.com
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