FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FUNERAL HOMES SINCE 1881
| H. Nelson Baitzel Jr. |
| October 20, 1934 - December 31, 2021 |
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Public Events and LocationsViewing - Friday, January 7, 2022, 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Wetzel and Son, RockledgeViewing - Saturday, January 8, 2022, 9:30 to 10:30 AM at Wetzel and Son, Rockledge Funeral Service - Saturday, January 8, 2022, 10:30 AM at Wetzel and Son, Rockledge Graveside Service - Saturday, January 8, 2022, 11:30 AM at Lawnview Cemetery, Rockledge |
ContactsFuneral Home - Wetzel and Son Funeral Home - 419 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, PA 19046 - 215-663-8550 - Map |
| Clergy - St. Robert Bellarmine Church - 856 Euclid Avenue, Warrington, PA 18976 - 215-343-0315 - Map |
| Cemetery - Lawnview Cemetery - 500 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, PA 19046 - 215-379-1600 - Map |
| Family Florist - Angel Rose Florist - 2810 Pickertown Road, Warrington, PA 18976 - 215-343-7556 - Map |
| Donation - American Heart Association-American Stroke Association - PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692 - 800-282-0291 - Map |
The following obituary was composed by Nelson’s family:
Howard Nelson Baitzel, Jr was born on October 20, 1934 and passed away on December 31, 2021.
He was proceeded in death by his wife Judith Flowers Baitzel, who passed away on July 25,2010.
He is survived by his loving children: H Nelson Baitzel, III, his wife Kathleen, their children H Nelson Baitzel, IV, his son Finley. Kristin Baitzel, her children Sienna, L.J. and Hunter. Cheryl Noetzel, her husband Garry, their daughter Stephanie Jackson, her husband Eric and their children Kayleigh and Christian. Marcia Mancino, who was proceeded in death by her husband Dennis McGeehan and her daughter Jennifer. Melissa Mancino and her children Alexis, Kristina, Anthony and Sarah. Lisa Baitzel, her husband Rasul Mobley, her children Laura Lanigan and her husband Joseph and their children Madison, Brenna, Grace and Reghan. Tanya Ray. Allison Guinan and her husband Joseph. Andrea Forgrave and her husband David, and their children Andrew Baitzel, his wife Jessica and their children Jack and Annabelle. Vanessa and David.
He was born in Philadelphia and was the only son of Evelyn Crompton Baitzel and Howard Baitzel. He graduated from Northeast High School for Boys. He attended Drexel and completed his business degree. Finding his true passion, he attended teacher corps completing his teaching degree. He was an elementary teacher for over 30 years. He taught several years at John Greenleaf Whittier School and H.R. Edmunds school. He was nominated as Pennsylvania teacher of the year. He enjoyed teaching and watching the children grow especially when he was able to see them as adults. One place that he particularly enjoyed going to was Big Al’s pizzeria as this was owned by one of his prior students.
He was also an intrical part of the dance community in Philadelphia. He and his wife were often referred to as the “Matriarch and Patriarch of the dance community” He enjoyed both square and contra dancing and would frequently travel to attend festivals. He shared this joy of dancing with his students by offering an after school square dance club which was well attended for many years. At the end of the school year children would be seen in the playground crying. When asked why they were crying they responded with one of two answers. One, we have Mr. Baitzel next year for a teacher and we are scared. The other was, we will no longer have him as a teacher and we are sad. Both extremes were valid. He was a lion on the outside and a teddy bear on the inside and the students were able to experience both aspects.
He was a man of faith and had been a Sunday School teacher, an elder and trustee in the church. He loved listening to Christmas and Easter cantatas and having Christmas celebrations with his family and friends.
He was a dedicated and hard-working man. He provided for his family often working various summer jobs including delivering phone books and working at the Airport as an Immigration officer. He provided all the necessities his family needed and also summer vacations including Ocean City NJ, cruises and other travel experiences, even when he had to leave to return home to work a summer job. He made sure that his family had what they needed to enjoy their vacation.
He was a basketball fan playing in a Christian Endeavor league. He and his wife followed the Temple basketball team attending games with his children and grand-children. They would also go to his grand-daughter’s college to attend basketball games.
In his later years he was still focused on learning. He spent time learning and documenting the history of the city he loved including its neighborhoods, parks, churches and cemeteries.
He was fond of telling stories and at times could be silly. He enjoyed Utah Phillips stories, and acting like Snaggletooth…….. exit stage right.
Relatives and friends were invited to his viewings on Friday, January 7, 2022 from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. and Saturday, January 8, 2022 from 9:30 A.M. and his funeral service at 10:30 A.M. all at Wetzel and Son Funeral Home, 419 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, PA 19046. His graveside service followed at Lawnview Cemetery, 500 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, PA 19046.
Religious service at the funeral home were conducted by Msgr. James D. Beisel, pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine Church, 856 Euclid Avenue, Warrington, PA 18976. His graveside service was conducted by Libby Smith.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to American Heart Association-American Stroke Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692 www.heart.org.
Family flowers arranged by Angel Rose Florist 215-343-7556.
www.wetzelandson.com
Howard Nelson Baitzel, Jr was born on October 20, 1934 and passed away on December 31, 2021.
He was proceeded in death by his wife Judith Flowers Baitzel, who passed away on July 25,2010.
He is survived by his loving children: H Nelson Baitzel, III, his wife Kathleen, their children H Nelson Baitzel, IV, his son Finley. Kristin Baitzel, her children Sienna, L.J. and Hunter. Cheryl Noetzel, her husband Garry, their daughter Stephanie Jackson, her husband Eric and their children Kayleigh and Christian. Marcia Mancino, who was proceeded in death by her husband Dennis McGeehan and her daughter Jennifer. Melissa Mancino and her children Alexis, Kristina, Anthony and Sarah. Lisa Baitzel, her husband Rasul Mobley, her children Laura Lanigan and her husband Joseph and their children Madison, Brenna, Grace and Reghan. Tanya Ray. Allison Guinan and her husband Joseph. Andrea Forgrave and her husband David, and their children Andrew Baitzel, his wife Jessica and their children Jack and Annabelle. Vanessa and David.
He was born in Philadelphia and was the only son of Evelyn Crompton Baitzel and Howard Baitzel. He graduated from Northeast High School for Boys. He attended Drexel and completed his business degree. Finding his true passion, he attended teacher corps completing his teaching degree. He was an elementary teacher for over 30 years. He taught several years at John Greenleaf Whittier School and H.R. Edmunds school. He was nominated as Pennsylvania teacher of the year. He enjoyed teaching and watching the children grow especially when he was able to see them as adults. One place that he particularly enjoyed going to was Big Al’s pizzeria as this was owned by one of his prior students.
He was also an intrical part of the dance community in Philadelphia. He and his wife were often referred to as the “Matriarch and Patriarch of the dance community” He enjoyed both square and contra dancing and would frequently travel to attend festivals. He shared this joy of dancing with his students by offering an after school square dance club which was well attended for many years. At the end of the school year children would be seen in the playground crying. When asked why they were crying they responded with one of two answers. One, we have Mr. Baitzel next year for a teacher and we are scared. The other was, we will no longer have him as a teacher and we are sad. Both extremes were valid. He was a lion on the outside and a teddy bear on the inside and the students were able to experience both aspects.
He was a man of faith and had been a Sunday School teacher, an elder and trustee in the church. He loved listening to Christmas and Easter cantatas and having Christmas celebrations with his family and friends.
He was a dedicated and hard-working man. He provided for his family often working various summer jobs including delivering phone books and working at the Airport as an Immigration officer. He provided all the necessities his family needed and also summer vacations including Ocean City NJ, cruises and other travel experiences, even when he had to leave to return home to work a summer job. He made sure that his family had what they needed to enjoy their vacation.
He was a basketball fan playing in a Christian Endeavor league. He and his wife followed the Temple basketball team attending games with his children and grand-children. They would also go to his grand-daughter’s college to attend basketball games.
In his later years he was still focused on learning. He spent time learning and documenting the history of the city he loved including its neighborhoods, parks, churches and cemeteries.
He was fond of telling stories and at times could be silly. He enjoyed Utah Phillips stories, and acting like Snaggletooth…….. exit stage right.
Relatives and friends were invited to his viewings on Friday, January 7, 2022 from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. and Saturday, January 8, 2022 from 9:30 A.M. and his funeral service at 10:30 A.M. all at Wetzel and Son Funeral Home, 419 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, PA 19046. His graveside service followed at Lawnview Cemetery, 500 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, PA 19046.
Religious service at the funeral home were conducted by Msgr. James D. Beisel, pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine Church, 856 Euclid Avenue, Warrington, PA 18976. His graveside service was conducted by Libby Smith.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to American Heart Association-American Stroke Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692 www.heart.org.
Family flowers arranged by Angel Rose Florist 215-343-7556.
www.wetzelandson.com
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