July 15, 2024
REST IN PEACE
David Vincent Voellinger, 85, of Bethlehem Pa, passed away on Monday, July 15, 2024, at Moravian Village, Bethlehem. He was the beloved husband of Lona Farr Voellinger, who remembers David as a loving and caring husband and her best friend, who will be remembered for his kindness, love, intellect, deep faith, good humor and the impact he made on his family, his friends and the communities he served. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
David was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 22, 1938, the fourth child of Stephen and Anna (Becker) Voellinger. He graduated from Northeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia in 1956 and entered the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales immediately upon graduation. He graduated summa cum laude from Niagara University in 1963 with a double degree in German and Philosophy, and received a Masters degree in Theology from the University of Eichstaett in Germany in 1966. He was ordained a priest at the Basilica in Annecy, France that same year, and said his first mass in his fathers ancestral village of Elchesheim, Germany. When he returned to the United States, he began teaching German in high schools in Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware. In 1969, he was assigned to be the Chaplain at the Palace Of Monaco for Their Serene Highnesses, Princess Grace and Prince Rainier.
In 1971, he returned to the United States and became the Director of Admissions at Allentown College of Saint Francis de Sales, now DeSales University, in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. He remained friends with the royal family until his death.
On September 27, 1981 he married Lona and worked as a senior administrator at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital for 8 years. He served as Director of Human Resources for a local company operating in six states from 1988 to 1990 and joined the staff of the Lehigh County Historical Society that year, serving as Director of Development until 2005 and raising $6.3 million to build a new museum at Fourth and Walnut Streets in Allentown. He became Director of Human Resources and Communications for Farr Associates in Allentown, serving in that position until he retired in 2016.
David was very active in the Lehigh Valley community, supporting many not-for-profit organizations including the Allentown Lions Club; Community Music School, serving as chair of the board for 10 years; Camerata Singers; the Institute of Jewish Christian Understanding at Muhlenberg College; Cedar Crest College Board of Associates; and Lehigh Valley Health Network Board of Associates. At the time of his death, he was the President of Cottage Council at Moravian Village in Bethlehem, where he and Lona, resided.
Survivors: David is survived by his loving wife, Lona, and their children, Andrea Gross (wife of Steven Herz), Stacey Wallingford (wife of Gregory Wallingford), and Jack Gross (husband of Sandy Stahl). He was cherished by his grandchildren, Simon Herz, Ella Herz, Graham Gross, Lillyan Wallingford, and John Wallingford, and a loving group of nieces and nephews: Christopher Lento, Annemarie (Lento) Brownmiller, Diane (Lento) Sodano, Lorraine (Lento) Cifelli, Paul Lento, Eileen
Dave was a CORPUS member