Walter Jennings Moretz, Jr.

Dr. Walter Jennings Moretz, Jr., age 77 of Ferrum was called to Heaven on Thursday, March 18, 2010. He was born in Columbia, SC on January 23, 1933 into the family of a Lutheran minister. The family lived in SC until 1948, when they moved to Bradenton, FL where Walter’s father had been called to develop a mission congregation. Following graduation from Manatee County High School in 1951, Walter attended Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, NC, graduating (A.B.) in 1955. He then attended Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, graduating (M. Div) in 1959. Following two years as Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Camden, SC, he attended Duke University for the next three years, studying Medieval History and Religion. He then became Pastor of Haven Lutheran Church for the next three years in Salisbury, NC. In 1967, he began graduate work at The Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL, to become a Counseling Psychologist. Completing his Ph.D. at FSU in 1970, he became Director of the Counseling and Psychological Services Center at what was then George Mason College of the University of Virginia in Fairfax, Va. Once the Counseling Center was fully established, he joined the Psychology department as a fulltime faculty member. For the remainder of his career, he devoted himself mainly to teaching and encouraging undergraduate students. He retired from George Mason University in 2001 and relocated with his wife, Karen, to Amherst, Va. While they were in Amherst, he began 10 semesters of teaching as an Adjunct Faculty member in the Psychology Department at Liberty University. He and Mrs. Moretz relocated from Amherst to Franklin County near Ferrum in August of 2004. Dr. Moretz is survived by his beloved wife, Karen; his beloved daughter, Catherine (by his first wife, Sara Anne Phelps Moretz); and four beloved step-daughters, Christine, Audrey, Caroline, and Emilie; five fine sons-in-law; and 15 grandchildren make up the remainder of Walter’s family. Walter counted this family as his greatest earthly blessing. He is also survived by his siblings, Dr. Bettie Smolansky of Bethlehem, PA; and Dr. Rufus Moretz of Hickory, NC. Walter’s in-laws include his brother’s wife, Mary Moretz and his sister’s husband, Dr. Oles Smolansky. The memorial service will be conducted at Trinity Episcopal Church in Rocky Mount on Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 4 p.m. by Rectors, Revs. John and Rachel Gardner. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to, The Walter Moretz Undergraduate Psychology Scholarship Fund at George Mason University; The Building Fund at the Phoebe Needles Retreat and Conference Center in Callaway, Va., or The Rector’s Discretionary Fund at Trinity Episcopal Church in Rocky Mount. Arrangements by Flora Funeral & Cremation Service, Rocky Mount.