Donald F. Bletz

Donald (Don) Ferree Bletz, 99, died at Cumberland Crossings on January 13, 2025. He was born in Mountville, Lancaster County, PA on July 28, 1925, son of the late Paul Hamilton and Ellen Lucille (Hoover) Bletz, Jr. Donald was married to Patricia Ann Thomas Bletz who preceded him in death in 2012. They had been married for over sixty-three years. He was always proud of his German ancestry and of his French Huguenot middle name which came from his maternal grandfather, Ferree Hess Hoover of Lancaster County and goes back to Marie Wartenbuer (Fierre) Ferree who settled in Lancaster County under a grant from William Penn.

Don enlisted in the Army on June 10, 1943, the same day he graduated from high school in Columbia, PA, and served with the 89th Infantry Division in Europe as a Sergeant. Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant at the Infantry Officer's Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA in 1946, he soon found himself back in Europe, northern Italy this time, in the 88th Infantry Division on the Yugoslav border. Along with his wife, Patricia, he returned to Europe and served in the United States contingent of the Allied Forces in the Free Territory of Trieste (TRUST), a relic of the Cold War, where he served in the Allied Military Government and later commanded Company A, 351st Infantry. Back in the United States, he served in the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky., in Korea in the 2d Infantry Division, and in the International Affairs Division of MACV Headquarters in Saigon, and later, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, also in Vietnam.

His Army schooling included the Infantry School Career courses, the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS, the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA, the National War College in Washington, DC and, what he always considered an exceptionally unique experience, he was the Army Fellow at the Harvard University Center for International Affairs in the 1970-71 academic year. His nonmilitary schooling included a bachelor's degree from the University of Omaha, a Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy from the American University in Washington, DC. His Army career included several faculty assignments including the Infantry School, The Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks. It was this teaching experience that led him to seek an academic career after his military retirement. He is the author of one book and many articles on political military affairs.

Upon retirement from the Army in 1975, he and his wife, Patricia, lived in Cumberland County in the village of Centerville for 27 years and then in Carlisle beginning in 2002. He served on the faculty at Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA for 20 years teaching political science and management. During two of those years, he served as interim college president during a crisis period. He continued his interest in politics, particularly international politics, throughout the rest of his life and followed world affairs and domestic politics closely.

He was preceded in death by his sister: Louise Bletz Cofer, his brother: Paul H. Bletz III, and his wife: Patricia. He is survived by sister-in-law: Claire Desroches Bletz of Stevensville, MT and by three children: T. Michael Bletz (wife, Kathi Shuttleworth Bletz), of Carlisle, Susan Bletz Kennell, of Port Washington, WI and Wendy Bletz Turner (husband, Jeffrey Turner), of Boise, ID; six grandchildren: Claire Bletz Wolf (husband, Michael), Molly Bletz, Caitlin Kennell Kim, Derek Kennell, lan Turner (wife, Jessie), and Meagan Turner Fackler (husband, Andrew); twelve great-grandchildren: Theodore, Lucy, Zoe, Phoebe, Moira, and Olivia Kim, Lana and Jasper Wolf, Wyatt and Weston Fackler, and Forrest and Leo Turner.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Hoffman Funeral & Cremation, of Carlisle. Interment will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Memorial gifts may be made to the Dickinson Presbyterian Church, 12 Church Rd. Carlisle, PA 17015 or to Wilson College, Office of Institutional Advancement, Wilson College 1015 Philadelphia Avenue Chambersburg, PA 17201.