James C. Wiltraut Sr. 1929-2008

James C. Wiltraut Sr., 78, of Allentown, passed away on April 9 in the Inpatient Hospice Unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital. He was born in Fullerton to the late Ferdinand and Phronia (Kriner) Wiltraut. He was the husband of the late Elizabeth (Marciano) Wiltraut.

He worked at Lehigh University as Post Master for many years. He was a member of St. Marks Lutheran Church, Allentown. He was a member of the Navy Fleet Reserve, V.F.W. Post 2124, and USS DeHaven Sailors Association and the American Legion, Allentown and Fullerton.

James served in the Navy as a radioman aboard the USS DeHaven (DD727). His ship was part of the initial six Navy destroyers which steamed toward Wolmi-Do Island on Sept. 13, 1950. Known as the Six Sitting Ducks, the destroyers drew fire from land based North Korean placements until forces could assemble for the infamous Inchon Invasion of North Korea.

RM3 Wiltraut on the DeHaven, second from right

James enjoyed Penn State and Whitehall High School athletics.

Survivors: Sons, William Wiltraut in Sweden, James Wiltraut Jr. and his wife, Karen, of Washington, D.C., Charles J. Wiltraut of Allentown; sister, Arlene Ankrom of Whitehall; brother, Richard Wiltraut and his wife, Dorothy, of Whitehall; grandchildren, Olivia, Alex and Mia Wiltraut. He was predeceased by a brother, F. William Wiltraut, and sisters, Dorothea Buckfeller and Isabel Brinkman.

Contributions: May be made to Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.
Published in the Morning Call on 4/12/2008.