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In Loving Memory

Greenwald, Theodore Walter, Lt. Col. (Retired)

Asleep in Jesus Monday, October 2, 2017 at the age of 97.  He was the third of five children born to William Frank Greenwald and Bertha Wilhelmina (Helbig) Greenwald on 17 February 1920.

His parents and siblings: LeRoy John Greenwald; Lillian Helen (Greenwald) Grommet; William George Greenwald; and Walter Frank Greenwald all preceded him in death.

Born in the City of St. Louis, the family attended St. Luke’s Lutheran Church until moving their membership to Salem Lutheran Church in Affton.  His childhood was spent living in the Meramec bottoms area near Fenton, Missouri until about 1935, when the family moved to Kirkwood, Missouri.  He attended Rott Elementary school and Kirkwood High School until economic times required him to begin his working career.  Initially working as a carpet installer, he soon began his trade as a carpenter working with his father and older brother.  During the early 1940’s he and his brother William (Bill) worked around Missouri, Kansas, Kentucky and Tennessee area’s building government military camps and training bases.  Both enlisted in the US Army in 1943.

On 29 March 1941, he married Lorraine Clara Grossgloss.  Following his enlistment and assignment to the Army Air Corps, they moved across the Southeast United States from training and education center to training center in preparation for war action.  On 23 December 1944, he graduated from Pilot School with the rank of Lieutenant.   During WW II he ferried bombers (B-25’s) across the US, eventually flying to Fiji Island and then following the Pacific campaign, island by island to the Philippines.  While in the Philippines preparing for the invasion of Japan, the war ended.  He served in Japan as part of the occupation forces until his return the US in October 1946.  He remained part of the US Air Force Reserves based out of Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, being called back to active service for the Korean conflict, and the Cuban Missile Crises.  He remained in the reserves until April 1968, retiring with the rank of Lt. Colonel.

From 1946 until his retirement in the early 1990’s his brother William and he, together at various times with his other siblings operated Wm. Greenwald & Sons, General Contractors.  While originally building mostly single family homes, by the 1960’s they were building mostly schools, churches, firehouses and city halls around the St. Louis and St. Louis County area, with one excursion to Mexico, Missouri in 1970.  By 1980, the business began tapering off as they readied for retirement.

Ted and Lorraine were blessed with three children: Theodore William, (wife Linda), Thomas Gerald (wife Annette), and Patricia Kay (husband Joseph).  Further blessings followed with 12 grandchildren: Dori, Michael, Melissa, John, Eric, Emily, Zechariah, Bethany, Daniel, Abigail, Stephen and Susanna, and 16 great grandchildren: Caroline, Kinley, Emerson, Hudson, Mason, Lucas, Elliot, Graydon, Eli, Kate, Hadassah, Zipporah, Havilah, Napthtali, Anabelle, and Beckham.

Throughout his life Ted was active at Salem Lutheran Church, singing in the Choir, and serving in various positions including Ushering, Trustees, and various building committees.

He spent many years traveling cross-country with Lorraine in their motor home, known as “The Green Machine”.  They visited sites in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Arizona, California, Indiana, Michigan, Korea and Puerto Rico.  Many of their days on the road were spent visiting family and seeing the sites of Disney World, the Kennedy Space Center, Williamsburg, Busch Gardens and Washington, D.C.

A long and full life, he will be missed by many friends, former military colleagues, church members, but especially by his family.

Services: Visitation will be at Kutis Affton Chapel, 10151 Gravois Rd., on Monday, October 9, from 4-8 PM. The visitation will continue at Salem Lutheran Church on Tuesday, October 10, from 9 AM until the funeral service at 10 AM. Interment at Sunset Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Salem Lutheran Church or the Charity of your choice.

 

 

 

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