Walter W. Hafer

Walter W. Hafer, 91, affectionately known as "Doots" to his many friends, formerly of Orchard Road, Fleetwood, passed away peacefully, October 30, 2026 at The Heritage, where he had been a resident.

He was the loving husband of Lorraine G. (Dunn) Hafer, with whom he shared 67 wonderful years of marriage.

Born in Boyertown, Walter was the son of the late Walter S. and Irene G. (Gift) Hafer. He was a 1952 graduate of Oley Valley High School and continued his education at RBI, graduating in 1958 with a degree in accounting. He also proudly served for six years as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve.

Walter enjoyed a long and successful career in accounting, serving as a cost accountant and corporate controller for Boyertown Packaging Corporation for 38 years before retiring in 1996.

His faith was an important part of his life. Walter was a former member of St. Margaret's Roman Catholic Church and a current member of St. Benedict's Roman Catholic Church in Mohnton. During his years at St. Margaret's, he generously shared his faith and served as a Eucharistic Minister at both the church and Reading Hospital.

Walter had a lifelong love of sports and was an accomplished athlete in several areas. While attending Oley Valley High School, he was a member of the 1952 basketball team that captured the Class C County Championship. He continued playing basketball with the Oley Recreation League, where his teams won championships in 1953 and 1954. He was also a lifetime member of the Reading-Berks Basketball Association.

His athletic interests extended well beyond basketball. Walter was a two-time All-Star in the Southern Berks Fastpitch Softball League and played baseball for the U.S. Army team at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He enjoyed many years of golfing and was a member of Golden Oaks Golf Club, where he proudly recorded both a hole-in-one and the memorable accomplishment of shooting his age. Over the years, he also earned numerous trophies in golf league championships and tournaments. An avid bowler as well, Walter played on several teams throughout Berks County and was part of a number of league championship teams.

In addition to his love of sports, Walter was dedicated to his community. He served as president of the Oley Valley Jaycees and generously gave his time to youth athletics as a treasurer, manager, and coach for Topton Baseball Little League. He also served on the Rockland Township Planning Commission and was a board member of the Boyertown Area YMCA.

In addition to his loving wife, Lorraine, Walter was a wonderful and devoted father to his daughter, Michele (Steve) McDermott, of Stamford, Connecticut, and his late son, Mark Alan Hafer. He is also survived by his sister, Dorothy (Ray) Bortz, of Oley, and was preceded in death by his sister, Betty Weidner, and her husband, Robert.

Walter will always be remembered by his family and many friends for his loving nature, his devotion to his family, his faith, his love of sports, and his involvement in the community.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 11 a.m. at St. Benedict's Roman Catholic Church, 2020 Chestnut Hill Road, Mohnton. Entombment will follow at Gethsemane Mausoleum. A viewing will be held at the church from 9:30 to 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Walter's memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (stjude.org), or to the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org) to support Alzheimer's research, care, and families affected by the disease.

Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading, is honored to assist the Hafer family. Condolences may be expressed at kuhnfuneralhomes.com.