Wing-chun Wong, 42, Towson U. professor Wing-chun Wong...

Wing-chun Wong, 42, Towson U. professor

Wing-chun Wong, associate professor of philosophy and religious studies at Towson University, died June 1 at the Wye Institute in Wye Mills after falling into a swimming pool and drowning. He was 42.

Authorities said Dr. Wong may have been returning to his quarters after attending an evening meeting when he lost his way in the rain and darkness and fell into the pool. He did not know how to swim.

At the time of his death, the Towson resident was participating in a faculty leadership retreat at the Eastern Shore facility, which is part of the Aspen Institute.

He also was about to begin a yearlong sabbatical at the University of Indiana, where he was to be a visiting scholar in the university's history and philosophy department. He was to become a naturalized U.S. citizen this summer.

A faculty member at Towson since 1993, Dr. Wong also was an internationally recognized Immanuel Kant scholar and regularly participated in Kant Congress meetings throughout the world. He also wrote widely on the 18th-century German philosopher.

Stephen Scales, a colleague in the philosophy and religious studies department, said, "Wing was perhaps the most virtuous person I've ever known, driven by his strong sense of duty to pursue excellence in everything he did. He gave his students not only his knowledge and insight but, even more importantly, his example."

The Hong Kong native, who was a student of Western classical music, initially planned to be a concert pianist. After reading the works of Kant, he chose to become a philosopher.

He earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and music composition at the University of Michigan and a doctorate in philosophy with a minor in mathematics at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.

In 1998, he married Lai-wan "Amy" Wong, who survives him.

Services were held Wednesday.

Dr. Wong also is survived by two brothers, Wing-wai Wong of Hong Kong and Wing-leung Wong of Los Angeles; and a sister, Wing-wah Wong of Singapore.

Loretta C. Reed, 96, C&P telephone operator

Loretta C. Reed, a retired chief operator of the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co., died Sunday of heart failure at San Ramon Hospital in California. The former Baltimorean was 96.

Mrs. Reed, who had lived in Alamo, Calif., since 1971, had formerly resided near Leakin Park and Walbrook.

She began working for C&P Telephone in the late 1920s and retired in 1961 as chief operator at the Forest and Glen Burnie telephone exchanges.

She was an active member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.

Loretta C. Weber was a Baltimore native who graduated from Western High School and attended the Maryland Institute, College of Art.

In 1924, she married John H. Reed, a former Democratic 5th District city councilman who also served in the House of Delegates. He died in 1958.

She enjoyed doing pen-and-ink and charcoal drawings.

Mrs. Reed had been a member of the sodality of St. Edward Roman Catholic Church and St. Benedict Roman Catholic Church, both in West Baltimore. She belonged to St. Isadore Roman Catholic Church in Danville, Calif.

A Mass of Christian burial was offered yesterday.

She is survived by a daughter, Georgia Reed of Alamo; a sister, Gladys Weber of Arbutus; and three grandsons.

Dorothy Marie Loetz, 86, department store buyer

Dorothy Marie Loetz, a retired buyer for a Baltimore department store, died Tuesday of cardiovascular disease at home in Silver Run, north of Westminster. She was 86.

Born in Baltimore, Dorothy Bach began working as a girl. She was a buyer for more than 25 years for Herman's Department Store on Eutaw Street, retiring about 1960. She was married in 1936 to August B. Loetz, a retired city police sergeant who died in 1999.

After Mrs. Loetz retired, the couple lived on the Magothy River in Anne Arundel County until 1979, when they moved to Denton. After developing Alzheimer's disease, Mrs. Loetz lived for five years in a nursing home until about two years ago, when she went to live with her daughter, D. Ruth Spicer of Silver Run.

Mrs. Loetz was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and a lifetime member of the Lakeshore Democratic Club in Pasadena.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. today at Skiles Funeral Home, 136 E. Baltimore St. in Taneytown, with burial at Keysville Union Cemetery in Keymar.

In addition to her daughter, she is survived by a brother, Roy Bach of Baltimore; 13 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren. A son, Donald Frederick Loetz Sr., died in 1997.

The family suggested memorial contributions to the Wesley United Methodist Church, Carrollton and Wesley roads, Hampstead 21074, or the Alzheimer's Association, Central Maryland Chapter, 1850 York Road, Timonium 21093.

Iona L. Byron-Matthews, 61, administrative aide