"He was a person who was willing to do anything society asked him to do," said the Rev. John Heim, a member of Xavier's faculty with Father Felten. "He was a wonderful, wonderful man."

Born in Chicago, Father Felten enrolled at Loyola University of Chicago, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Latin and Greek in 1936.

He spent eight years studying in Jesuit schools before entering the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus.

During his studies to become a priest, he earned a master's in Latin and Greek from St. Louis University, as well as a licentiate in philosophy and a licentiate in sacred theology from West Baden College in West Baden Springs, Ind. He also studied at Oxford University.

He was ordained in 1952 at West Baden College and in 1957 was assigned as an instructor to Xavier University, where he served for 30 years as a professor, dean and co-founder of the Honors Program.

Father Felten helped start Xavier's Honors Program in 1958 and headed it until 1967, when he was appointed dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. In 1987, Father Felton became a professor emeritus at Xavier, and he served on Xavier's board of trustees from 1961 to 1973.

The Rev. J. Leo Klein, professor of theology and vice president for mission and ministry, was a member of Xavier's faculty with Father Felten. "He was a mainstay here in the '60s, '70s and '80s. He was a jovial, bright, articulate person and very much of a raconteur."

In addition to his love of teaching, Father Felten participated in the Clinical Pastoral Education Program at Good Samaritan Hospital. He also was a fund-raiser for the Chicago Province in Cincinnati; became an associate pastor at Old St. Mary's in Over-the-Rhine; served as a volunteer laundryman at Mary Magdalen House, and as a volunteer chaplain at University of Cincinnati Hospital.

In 1997, he began volunteering as an archivist at Xavier, a job that he would continue until he moved into Colombiere Center, a Jesuit retirement community in Clarkston, in 2002.

Father Felten is survived by nieces Denise of Middlesex, N.J..; Anne of Rockville, Md..; and a nephew, Kevin of Pickens, S.C.

Services have been held.