Valentine Paul Buchwald

Valentine P. Buchwald (Val), 97, son of Vera and Valentine Buchwald, passed away on Thursday, December 22, 2022.  A son of immigrant parents, Mr. Buchwald was raised in Newark, NJ with his two older sisters, the late Vera (Tremmel) and the late Lillian (Hornig). 

Upon graduation from East Side High School, Val enlisted in the World War II effort as a Marine.  His unit was positioned in the Pacific theater where he was later awarded a Purple Heart medal from an injury sustained while stringing communication lines on Iwo Jima.  He witnessed the historic American flag raising on Mt. Suribachi in February of 1945; by January of 1946 Val was discharged from service as a Corporal. 

Val was married to the late Viola Switz Buchwald for 60 years.  Together, they literally built their home in Berkeley Heights, NJ, and raised their family.  Val's mechanical artistry was expressed in his personal and professional life.  He shared his love of carpentry with countless friends and family, building everything from house dormers to furniture to picture frames and bird houses.  After a decades-long career in mechanical engineering, Mr. Buchwald retired from Bell Laboratories, Whippany, NJ, in 1987. He was a designer for the "Merlin" phone system that debuted in 1983.

In the late 1960's he was able to return with his family to the South Pacific under peaceful circumstances, working for Bell Telephone in Kwajalein, Marshall Islands for two years. Val's retirement is marked by world travel with Viola, rounds of golf with friends and family, construction of a large woodshop on his Virginia property, and time spent with his four grandchildren: Frank P. Smolar, Chelsea E. Hernandez, Carla I. Smith, and Phoebe L. Smith. 

He is survived by his three daughters Valerie and husband Frank Smolar, Victoria Starace, Vivan and husband Paul Smith, two great-grandchildren of grand daughter Chelsea and husband Will Hernandez, Luke and Lila Hernandez, and loving nephews and nieces.  We will see you "some Saturday morning," Dad. 

Friends may call at McAlister-Smith Funeral 1520 Rifle Range Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC on Friday, December 30, 2022 at 10:00 am followed by the funeral service at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests and appreciates donations to Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation 909 N. Washington Street, Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22314 (mcsf.org).