Walter Eggert, 87, Budd engineer

Walter S. Eggert, 87, of Huntingdon Valley, a Budd Co. engineer and a designer for more than 40 years, died at home Oct. 13 after a fall.

At Budd, Mr. Eggert helped design rapid-transit cars for San Francisco, New York and Chicago; designed a vehicle to ferry passengers from airport terminals to remotely parked jumbo jets; developed a special diesel fuel for railway cars; conceived and designed an ejection-seat system for Navy planes; and worked on structural and mechanical systems for NASA.

He was responsible for more than 100 patents, including a design for a lightweight amphibious car for flood-prone areas. After retiring as chief design engineer at Budd's Technical Center in Fort Washington in 1983, he was an engineering consultant for several years.

From age 10, Mr. Eggert built model airplanes that he flew in local and national competitions. After graduating from Frankford High School, he earned a scholarship to Pennsylvania State University and earned a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering. While at Penn State he designed model railroads and airplanes for Megan Co. and began his career with Budd in Philadelphia.

During World War II, he served in the Army and was injured by enemy shrapnel during combat in the Philippines. He was later stationed in occupied Japan.

In his youth, Mr. Eggert was a champion roller skater and enjoyed skating into his 70s. He was also an expert skier. He taught his children how to ski when they were 3, said his wife, Helen Fedak Eggert. The couple had met at a Wissahickon Ski Club-sponsored weekend in Vermont. At home he could fix anything, from a leaky faucet to a complicated clock, she said.

In addition to his wife of 44 years, Mr. Eggert is survived by a son, Walter M.; a daughter, Anna Maupay; a sister; and four grandchildren.

No services were scheduled.