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William L. Wilt passed away peacefully on Oct. 22, 2026, at the age of 92.
Born on July 2, 1934, he was the son of the late Maxine and Raymond Wilt of Yeagertown. Bill was born during the Great Depression and grew up in difficult circumstances that profoundly shaped his life.
Bill attended schools in Yeagertown and graduated from Derry Township High School in the class of 1952. Over the years, he enjoyed many class reunions and was among the last surviving members of his class. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served as a dental assistant in Japan. He was proud of his service and felt strongly that his experience in the military improved his life.
In his youth, Bill delivered newspapers and groceries. This foreshadowed his later career as an owner-operator truck driver, transporting steel and freight throughout the East Coast. He belonged to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and drove for most of his career with Kaplan Trucking. In later years, he also worked for Hurlburt & Savitts Lumber and ABF Freight. Bill was proudly the first local truck driver to own a Peterbilt.
Bill was a lifelong learner, with a wealth of subjects capturing his interest. He was a Civil War buff and toured many historic battlefields. He enjoyed antique gasoline engines and was a member of the Nittany Antique Machinery Association. He owned and restored three antique vehicles and belonged to several related clubs. He was a local pioneer of solar energy and built his own rooftop solar heating system in the 1980s. Bill traveled the world but was quick to share his pride in being a native and lifelong resident of Yeagertown and to tell you of the beauty of our local area.
He was a member of the Yeagertown United Methodist Church and a proud brother of Lewistown Lodge No. 203, F. & A.M., where he recently celebrated 60 years of Masonic membership.
Bill is survived by his children, William E. Wilt and Lentha Barron and their mother Sheila Wilt. Also surviving are William's son Benjamin and his wife, Kelly; Lentha's husband Dave, and their children, Sterrett and Vanessa; as well as his dachshund Reuben and close friend Terry Carlson, both loyal companions in recent years. He was preceded in death by his daughters, Vanessa Wilt and Maxine Estell, and his sisters, Sidney Guthridge and Barb Wray.
He was an avid reader throughout his life, and the family requests any memorial gifts be made to the Mifflin County Library, 123 N. Wayne St., Lewistown, PA 17044.
Ever the student and the teacher, Bill made the choice to donate his body to medical science. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at King Funeral Home and Crematory, 47 Carriage House Lane, Reedsville, with Pastors Steve Small and Tom Morningstar officiating. The service will also include military honors rendered by the United States Air Force and Masonic rites. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 2 p.m. until time of service.
Online condolences can be shared at www.kingbarrfuneralhome.com.