Scholtes, Harold Frederic

Harold Frederic Scholtes, 93, of Blacksburg, loving husband of Alvene Marie Scholtes for 69 years, died October 7, 2011, after declining health. Born August 23, 1918 in Palisades Park, New Jersey, he was the son of the late Charles and Elizabeth Scholtes. After high school he began working for the International Nickel Company (INCO) in New York City, N.Y. With World War II, he took leave to serve in the US Army. After the war, he returned to INCO, earned a Bachelors Degree in Business from New York University and remained with the company for 47 years, retiring as a comptroller from Huntington Alloys, in Huntington, W.Va. After retiring, he and his wife moved to Lehigh Acres, Fla. He was always involved in community and family activities. He was a boy Scout troop leader for six years for the Westwood Methodist Church and served on the council board for the North Bergen County NJ Boy Scouts for several years. He was also a commissioner for little league baseball in Westwood, N.J. He was on the founding committee of Elks Lodge 2602 in Lehigh Acres, Fla. and served in various offices, including Treasurer. Additionally, he was a proud member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He enlisted in the US Army on September 29, 1941, two months before Pearl Harbor. After the war broke out, he attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga. and then served two years overseas in the Pacific Theater with HQs Sixth US Army and the 31st Infantry (Dixie) Division, where he participated in the New Guinea, Bismarck-Archipelago and Southern Philippines Campaigns, and the Liberation of the Philippine Islands. For his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with three Bronze Battle Stars, American Theater Campaign Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal with one Bronze Battle Star, World War Two Victory Medal, and four overseas service bars. After discharge from active service, he remained in the US Army Reserve, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and retiring from service in August 1978. He was predeceased by his sister, Ruth Binder. He is survived by his loving family, including his brother, Charles Scholtes (Peg) of Milford, Pa. and son, Wayne H. Scholtes (Linda), of Spartanburg, S.C.; daughter, Faye E. Myers of Blacksburg; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. A memorial service, with full military honors, will be held at the McCoy Funeral Home Chapel at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 16, 2011. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Army Emergency Relief Fund, 200 Stovall Street, Alexandria, VA 22332. Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg.