Reverend Dr. Lee Cueny Waltz's Obituary
Reverend Dr. Lee Cueny Waltz was born on May 5, 1933, in Englewood, New Jersey, to John William Waltz and Rose Cueny Waltz.
Lee was a remarkable man. He graduated in 1956 from Washington and Lee University even as he struggled with dyslexia. Some of his favorite memories are from the four years he spent at W&L. He majored in European history, played college tennis on the W&L team and was a distinguished military student in the ROTC. After cracking up a Piper Cub airplane that he was flying, he wondered if God had a special purpose for him. So, he entered Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia, where he became interested in pastoral counseling and hospital chaplaincy, with an emphasis on teaching pastors how to converse with others in difficult life situations.
After serving for three years in a two-church pastorate in Tidewater, Virginia, Lee began training in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Medical College of Virginia, Worchester State Hospital in Massachusetts, and Boston City Hospital. He became a Certified Supervisor for Clinical Pastoral Education in 1968. This was the field in which he excelled and loved all his life. He was Director of the Pastoral Care Department at The Med in Memphis, Tennessee, for ten years.
He then took on the pastorate at Balmoral Presbyterian Church in Memphis for seven years. At that time, he started a once-a-week program for local pastors who used their pastoral encounters as the basis for their CPE studies. It was one of the first programs of its kind in the nation. Lee then began a long-distance commute to Louisville Seminary to obtain a doctoral degree in pastoral counseling. His thesis was on pastoral care of the pastor.
Lee moved to Annapolis, Maryland, in 1987 to become Director of Pastoral Care at Ann Arundel Hospital. He again got that CPE program certified and amongst his students were many Episcopalians and ex-military officers. He moved back to Memphis in 1997 and was a supervisor at Methodist Hospital until his retirement the following year.
Lee then volunteered as a supervisor once a week for ten years with his friend the Reverend Alan Bell, who had a CPE program at the VA Hospital in Memphis. Lee stopped volunteering when he began showing symptoms of vascular dementia, an insidious disease. He died in his sleep at Baptist Reynolds Hospice House on December 7, 2023.
Besides his commitment to pastoral care, Lee also enjoyed playing tennis and reading all types of history books. He became an avid photographer and developed his own pictures. His favorite vacation spot was the beach. He was a charming storyteller with often a twinkle in his eye.
Lee leaves behind his beloved and supportive wife of 66 years, Linda Hayworth Waltz. He also leaves four children: Debra Waltz Hayes (Paul), Laura Waltz Sexton (Robert), Benay Waltz Arwine, and Robert Patrick Waltz (Lisa); eight grandchildren: Maggie Hayes Mitchell (Hunter), Sarah Hayes, Andy Hayes, Jimmy Beard (Olivia), Hunter Arwine, Asher Arwine, Olivia Arwine, Anna Waltz; and four great grandchildren: Noah Mitchell, Betsy Mitchell, Judah Mitchell, and Poppy Beard.
A memorial service will be held at Balmoral Presbyterian Church on 6413 Quince Road, in Memphis, Tennessee, on Saturday, December 16. Visitation with the family will last from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. with the service at 2 p.m. There will be a reception afterwards at the church.
In Lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Balmoral Presbyterian Church, Memphis, TN. or to a charity of your choosing.
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