William P. Lentz, 90

Consulting engineer

By Frederick N. Rasmussen

May 8, 2008

William P. Lentz, a retired consulting engineer and World War II veteran, died in his sleep Monday at his Roland Park home. He was 90.

Mr. Lentz was born in Baltimore and raised in Ten Hills. He was a 1935 graduate of Polytechnic Institute and earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Cornell University in 1939.

He worked for Eastman Kodak Co. until enlisting in the Army Signal Corps. Trained in radar, Mr. Lentz flew aboard B-24 bombers as a navigator while stationed in Italy.

He was discharged with the rank of captain and returned to Baltimore at the end of the war. For many years, he worked as an electrical engineer for Henry Adams Inc., a Towson consulting engineering firm.

In later years, he worked as a consulting engineer until he retired in 1990.

Mr. Lentz' field was illumination and he had been president of the Illuminating Engineering Society. He was also a member of the Engineering Society of Baltimore.

Mr. Lentz enjoyed tennis, reading and studying languages.

He was a communicant and former senior warden and vestryman of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 811 Cathedral St., where a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. June 14.

Surviving are his wife of 60 years, the former Frances Perdue Johnson; three sons, Walter J. Lentz of Watch Hill, R.I., Benjamin D. Lentz of Bronxville, N.Y., and David H. Lentz of Baltimore; a daughter, Ellen L. Waldstein of Warren, N.J.; a brother, Gordon Lentz of Ormond Beach, Fla.; and nine children.