Paul Joseph Halter, Jr.

Paul Joseph Halter, Jr. 77, a long-time resident of Newburgh, Indiana passed away August 26, 2022.   Born in Wilkes-Barre, PA he was the son of the late Paul J. Sr. and Mary Proeller Halter.  He married Wileen Helfrich in St. Nicholas Church on June 26, 1971.  He was a 1963 graduate of St. Nicholas High School.  Paul was a veteran of the United States Air Force. After graduating from basic training at Lackland AF base in San Antonio, TX, he studied radar electronics at Keesler AF base in Biloxi, MS. He was stationed at Olathe, KS and Othello, WA, serving as a radar technician.  Upon completion of his service duties, Paul received his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Penn State University in State College, PA where he was inducted into the IEEE Eta Kappa Nu Honor Society.  He accepted a position in electrical engineering with ALCOA in Massena, NY in 1973. While in Massena he attended Clarkson University, earning a Master’s Degree in Industrial Management.  In 1980, Paul transferred to ALCOA Warrick Operations, Indiana where he remained until his retirement in 2005.

Paul was a past president of the St. John the Baptist Parish Council, where he and his family were members for 42 years.  Paul and his wife Wileen were active leaders in the Marriage Encounter movement in Massena, NY and later served as team leaders in Teens Encounter Christ, Engaged Encounter, and Cursillo in the Diocese of Evansville. 

Upon Paul’s retirement, the couple traveled to all 50 states, 8 Canadian Provinces, 4 Continents, and enjoyed 19 ocean cruises. Paul enjoyed working on cars, especially his prized 1996 Mustang GT convertible and other projects in his workshop. He was an avid fan of Penn State football and Joe Paterno. He and Wileen also spent many years playing pinochle and hand, knee and foot with good friends.  More than anything, Paul most enjoyed spending time with his family and entertaining his grandchildren.

Paul was an engineer’s engineer, designing a life spent building a foundation for his children and grandchildren, fixing things around the home, and traveling the world with his wife.  Above all, his foundation was his faith. 

Surviving are his wife, Wileen; children, P J Halter III and his wife Kate, Michael W. Halter and his wife Becky, Alissa M. Halter, and Kevin M. Halter and his wife Sarah; grandchildren Kellen, Addie, and Sage, Ben and Courtney (CoCo), Charleston and Josephina (JoJo); siblings Joseph and his wife Thea, Rosemarie Yashkus, Robert and his wife Mary, Carol Stoodley and her husband Ivor, and Elizabeth Kwashnik and her husband Hank; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Bernard Yashkus, sister-in-law Jean Ann Brennan and her husband Joe, and his stillborn son Matthew in 1975.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, August 31th, at 10 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church, 625 Frame Rd., Newburgh, IN.  Entombment will follow at St. John Mausoleum, 5020 Bell Rd., Newburgh, with military rites.  Friends may visit with the family from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 30th, at Titzer Family funeral Home, 510 W. Jennings St., Newburgh IN 47630, (812)853-8314.

If desired, memorial donations may be made in memory of Paul J. Halter Jr. to Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital, 3700 Washington Ave., Evansville, IN 47714; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl, Memphis, TN 38105; Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, P.O. Box 22324, New York, NY 10087

Sympathy wishes may be made at www.titzerfamilyfuneralhomes.com