Erhard Siegfried Gillwald

Erhard (Ed) Siegfried Gillwald passed away peacefully on November 10, 2025 in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania after a long period in which he suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease. Erhard was born in Bad Doberan, Germany, on March 17, 1937. Erhard grew up in Germany during WWII and moved to Canada with his family at the end of the war. Erhard’s first marriage in 1957 was to Dorothea (Dottie) Margarete Kitscher while residing in Toronto, Canada. He then moved permanently to the United States and settled in Shannondale, West Virginia where, along with his wife Dottie, he raised his two sons. Erhard proudly became a naturalized United States citizen in 1968. He was a handyman and completed many additions to his home next to Lake Shannondale over the years. He worked various jobs in his early years in the Washington, DC area and in 1968, he began what would become a life-long career working for General Motors in Martinsburg, WV. He retired from General Motors in the mid-2000s. Erhard’s second marriage was to Lois Elizabeth Smith in 2012. Erhard had a passion for playing sports and was an avid golfer, bowler, and tennis player. He was recognized for accomplishing a “Hole-in-One” by the PGA on the 171 Yard, Par-3 4th Hole at the Woods Resort, in Hedgesville, WV on August 16, 2008 where he was residing at the time. In his early life, Erhard was an accomplished square-dancer with the “Beaux and Belles” and enjoyed ballroom dancing throughout his life. Erhard liked going to the Charles Town Race Track to watch the horses. He especially enjoyed playing card games.

Erhard Gillwald is survived by his wife, Lois Elizabeth Smith of Hagerstown Maryland, sons Peter Gregory Gillwald (Shelley) and Ralph Gillwald (Cheryl), stepdaughters Lida Rose Portner (Harry) and Michele Rene Smith (Doug), grandchildren Eric Michael Gillwald, Karsten Rainer Gillwald (Sia), Anika Nicole Gillwald and Marissa Kathleen Gillwald, and great-grandchildren James Maximilian Gillwald and Molly Dorothea Gillwald. Erhard was pre-deceased by his father Rudolf Richard Gillwald, mother Elise Elli Laubsch Gillwald, sister Waltraud Elli Neumann, brother Ekhard Rudolf Gillwald, and grandson Matthew Edward Gillwald (Madeleine).

Erhard will be laid to rest at Lakeview Cemetery in Hamilton, Virginia on December 15, 2025 at 1 PM followed by a reception for family and close friends.

Donations can be made in lieu of flowers in his name at Grane Hospice Care, www.granehospice.com.