Robert L. Held Jr., a retired Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Co. engineer and decorated veteran of World War II, died Sunday of leukemia at St. Joseph Hospital. He was 73 and lived on Providence Road in Towson.

A memorial service for Mr. Held will be held at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Maryland Presbyterian Church, 1105 Providence Road.

He retired in 1978 after working 42 years for the telephone company.

The native of Towson was a 1935 graduate of Towson High School and attended the University of Maryland.

During World War II, he served in the Army, first in a Coast Artillery unit in the Aleutians and then in the Army Air Forces as radio operator on a B-24 with 33 missions over Europe. His decorations included the Air Medal.

He was a charter member and deacon of the Maryland Presbyterian Church.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, the former Helen Taylor; a son, Thomas Held of Catonsville; a daughter, Nancy Held of Towson; a sister, Dorothy H. Reidt of Towson; and two granddaughters.