Walter Diener

Walter M. Diener Jr., 85, passed away on April 5, 2025, at Columbia Cottage Wyomissing in Spring Township. Born in West Reading in 1939, Walter was one of three children of Ruth (Hiltebeitel) and Walter M. Diener Sr.

Among many interests, he was a ham radio aficionado.  You would often find him seated at his makeshift home station announcing his call sign "W3EQF — W-3 Easy Queen Fox" hoping to connect with other amateur radio enthusiasts around the globe.

Walter's love of time spent at a microphone originated during his high school years at The Hill School in Pottstown, where he was a member of the Radio Club. After graduation from the Hill in 1957, he attended Lehigh University, where some of his fondest memories included working as a disc jockey for WGPA-1100 AM in Bethlehem, before heading to law school at the University of Pennsylvania.Â

After graduating from Penn Law in 1964, he served in the Medical Service Corps, achieving the rank of captain. He shared many fond memories of his service, including his year in South Korea, and of traveling in other parts of Asia. In 1986, he earned a Master of Laws in Taxation degree from Villanova University. Â

Upon completing his Army service in 1964, Walter returned to Berks County and joined the firm of Balmer, Mogel, Speidel & Roland.  Prior to his retirement in 2017, Walter was a shareholder at Kozloff Stoudt in Wyomissing since 2000 and was previously a partner with Kozloff, Diener, Payne & Fegley since 1977.

He was a member of the Pennsylvania and Berks County Bar Associations. He also served as a former chair and member of the board of directors for the Berks County Estate Planning Council.

An attorney for over 50 years specializing in estate planning, estate administration and real estate law, Walter was known for his zealous advocacy and selfless service to his clients as much as for his integrity and humor. A pastel landscape artist by hobby, he supported the arts as a former chair and member of the board of the Wyomissing Institute of Fine Arts in Wyomissing, now the Yocum Institute for Arts Education.Â

During his free time, he enjoyed social gatherings with family, traveling, gardening, arrowhead hunting, metal detecting and working outdoors on his vintage Ford tractor at his farm in the Oley Valley.Â

Walter is survived by his wife, Joan London of Wyomissing, with whom he shared 28 years of marriage; three children with his first wife, the late Emily G. Diener of Douglassville: Dr. Elizabeth B. Diener of West Wyomissing, Courtney H. Diener-Stokes of Oley (her spouse, John Stokes) and Walter M. Diener IlI of Douglassville (his spouse, Amy Diener); his sister, Margaret Maxwell of Bellevue, Wash.; and six grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sister, Virginia Barbey of La Jolla, Calif..

A private service will be held at the convenience of the family.

Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be expressed at kuhnfuneralhomes.com