Louis L. Athey, 85, of Lancaster, PA, died on Saturday, July 25, 2015 at Lancaster General Hospital.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Charles F. Snyder, Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA. Interment in Conestoga Memorial Park in Lancaster.
A viewing will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of service at at the funeral home Saturday.
Mr. Athey was born in Irving, the son of the late Ralph and Esther Ruth (Hutchins) Athey. He was married to Jean (Pursell) Athey for over 62 years, and she survives.
Shortly after graduating from high school, Mr. Athey joined the U.S. Navy, serving from 1947 through 1957. He then received his undergraduate degree from Trenton State and went on to receive a Ph.D. in history from the University of Delaware in 1965.
He was a history professor at Franklin & Marshall College for many years focusing on U.S. history from the Civil War through the New Deal. He retired in 1991.
Mr. Athey was a member of the American Association of University Professors, serving as the local president from 1985-1986, a member of the Southern History Association and the West Virginia Labor History Group.
He enjoyed gardening, birdwatching, reading, good country music and the St. Louis Cardinals. He also enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family and friends in Cape May, NJ, Ansted, WV, Gananoque, ON, and his birth state of Illinois.
Along with his wife, Mr. Athey is survived by two daughters, Jan Athey of Lancaster, PA, and Linda Leitgeb of Allentown, PA; two sons, Bruce Athey and Eric (Laura) Athey, both of Lancaster, PA; six grandchildren, Manon Athey, Savannah Gray, Cameron Gray, Ryan Leitgeb, Thomas Athey, Calvin Athey; three sisters, Elaine Spizzo of Chicago, Rose Fandel of Peoria and Nan Zion of Madison, WI.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Joan McCulley.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, 314 Good Dr, Lancaster, PA 17603.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at SnyderFuneralHome.com.
