Walter J. Allweiler | Pastry chef, veteran, 93

Walter J. Allweiler, 93, of Drexel Hill, a retired pastry chef and decorated World War II veteran, died Sunday at Saunders House in Wynnewood.

A native of Germany, Mr. Allweiler immigrated to the United States at 15 and lived with his uncle, Oscar Schwar, a timpanist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He attended Overbrook High School at night and then was a pastry chef in New York.

During World War II, Mr. Allweiler was an Army corporal in Europe. His uncle was told he was missing in action in Italy, according to newspaper accounts from August 1944. Later it was discovered that he was alive and recovering from combat wounds. He received a Purple Heart.

After his discharge, Mr. Allweiler was a pastry chef for Penn Fruit supermarkets. He retired in the 1970s.

He enjoyed growing vegetables and collecting stamps.

His wife, Anna Eisen Allweiler, whom he met while stationed in Austria, died in 1989. He is survived by his longtime companion, Ilse Wiemann, and nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Ruffenach Funeral Home, 4900 Township Line Rd., Drexel Hill. Friends may call at 10 a.m. Burial will be in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Marple Township.