Obituary for Major General (Ret) Walter Reed Ernst II
Major General (Ret) Walter Reed Ernst, II, 78, of Camp Hill, PA, passed away on Thursday, November 26, 2020 at the Woods of Cedar Run, Camp Hill, PA.
Born on August 4, 1942 in Harrisburg, PA, he was the son of the late Walter Reed and Thelma (Peifer) Ernst.
Reed was a graduate of Camp Hill High School and went on to receive his Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from Gettysburg College in 1964. Immediately following his graduation, he commissioned in the United States Air Force, serving for five years as a master instructor in the T-38 before joining the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard in 1970, which he later commanded as a Colonel from 1993 to 1996. Reed ultimately retired from military service after 38 years. He was a C-130 command pilot with over 10,000 flying hours including his time in the T-38. At retirement, he served as Special Assistant to the Commander, US Special Operations Command with the rank of Major General.
Reed loved all sports as a football and baseball player in high school and college. He was an avid fan and coach watching his children and grandchildren throughout their athletic careers. Reed was the last 10-year-old to hit a home run in the Little League World Series as a member of the 1953 Camp Hill team. He loved playing golf and spending time with his family in Stone Harbor, NJ. Reed was a longtime member of the Camp Hill Lions Club, always participating in the annual Christmas Tree Sale and many of the Lions Club events.
Reed is survived by his wife of 56 years, Nancy (Sheaffer) Ernst, of Camp Hill; two sons, Jeffrey R. Ernst and his wife Jann, of Carlisle, PA, and Brett P. Ernst and his wife Star, of Enola, PA; a daughter, Julie L. George and her husband, Doug, of Enola, PA; six grandchildren, Katelyn, Jonathan, Cole, Madison, Hailey, and Mackenzie; two sisters, Susan Yentzer and her husband William, of Camp Hill, PA, and Sally McCrea and her husband Andrew, of Newville, PA; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A graveside service with Military Honors will be held at 11:30 A.M. on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, PA. Myers-Harner Funeral & Cremation Services, Camp Hill, has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Homeland Hospice of Harrisburg, Pa. In memory of Reed, play a round of golf, dance to the song YMCA, take your favorite dog for a walk, wave to a C-130 in the sky, and always remember to salute the flag.
Born on August 4, 1942 in Harrisburg, PA, he was the son of the late Walter Reed and Thelma (Peifer) Ernst.
Reed was a graduate of Camp Hill High School and went on to receive his Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from Gettysburg College in 1964. Immediately following his graduation, he commissioned in the United States Air Force, serving for five years as a master instructor in the T-38 before joining the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard in 1970, which he later commanded as a Colonel from 1993 to 1996. Reed ultimately retired from military service after 38 years. He was a C-130 command pilot with over 10,000 flying hours including his time in the T-38. At retirement, he served as Special Assistant to the Commander, US Special Operations Command with the rank of Major General.
Reed loved all sports as a football and baseball player in high school and college. He was an avid fan and coach watching his children and grandchildren throughout their athletic careers. Reed was the last 10-year-old to hit a home run in the Little League World Series as a member of the 1953 Camp Hill team. He loved playing golf and spending time with his family in Stone Harbor, NJ. Reed was a longtime member of the Camp Hill Lions Club, always participating in the annual Christmas Tree Sale and many of the Lions Club events.
Reed is survived by his wife of 56 years, Nancy (Sheaffer) Ernst, of Camp Hill; two sons, Jeffrey R. Ernst and his wife Jann, of Carlisle, PA, and Brett P. Ernst and his wife Star, of Enola, PA; a daughter, Julie L. George and her husband, Doug, of Enola, PA; six grandchildren, Katelyn, Jonathan, Cole, Madison, Hailey, and Mackenzie; two sisters, Susan Yentzer and her husband William, of Camp Hill, PA, and Sally McCrea and her husband Andrew, of Newville, PA; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A graveside service with Military Honors will be held at 11:30 A.M. on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, PA. Myers-Harner Funeral & Cremation Services, Camp Hill, has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Homeland Hospice of Harrisburg, Pa. In memory of Reed, play a round of golf, dance to the song YMCA, take your favorite dog for a walk, wave to a C-130 in the sky, and always remember to salute the flag.