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In Memoriam Ambrose R . Malenke 4W9 May 13 , 2022
James D . McFadden 5W9 May 30 , 2022
Leland D . McMonigal 6W8 July 6 , 2022
George D . Lentz 4W3
George Lentz , a retired painter , died July 11 , two months shy of his 100th birthday .
A World War II veteran , he served with the 385th bomb group and was the top turret gunner on a B-17 Bomber .
After the war he started his own painting contracting business . The business , which has run for 77 years , was later run by his son and grandson .
After retiring from painting , he worked at Ambler Chemical and taught a shop class at Graterford Correctional Institution for 17 years .
He earned a teaching degree at Temple University .
Donald E . Harris 4W6
Donald Harris , Ed . D ., 4W6 , Williamson ’ s vice president of education from 1973-83 , died Oct . 28 . He was 94 .
He served as an infantryman in the U . S . Army ’ s 11th Airborne during World War II , including two years as a machinist in the 62nd Signal Battalion in Sapporo and Sendai , Japan .
After the war , he worked as a machinist with several firms . He then earned a bachelor of science degree at Penn State and worked in various capacities at Harris , Henry , and Potter , a civil engineering firm .
He began a 31-year career in vocational education in 1962 as a machine shop instructor at Tyrone Area High School . He then earned a masters degree in education and an M . Ed . at Penn State in 1965 . In 1966 , he joined the faculty at Penn State ’ s Department of Vocational Education , where he traveled throughout Pennsylvania helping instructors at vocational schools improve their teaching skills and attain certification .
In 1973 , he returned to Williamson as the director of education , in 1976 he received his D . Ed . from Penn State , and in 1979 he was promoted to vice president , a position he held until leaving Williamson in 1983 .
From 1984 until his retirement in 1993 , he served as a supervisor of trade and industrial education and coordinator of vocational education for the Philadelphia School District .
In 1993 , he received Williamson ’ s Alumni Association ’ s Distinguished Alumnus Award .
In retirement , he enjoyed traveling worldwide , maintaining a small farm in Bucks County , occasionally serving as
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an educational consultant , and regularly volunteering at the American Legion in New Hope as well as with several other local civic organizations .
Jack Campbell 5W0
Jack Campbell 5W0 , who served in the Army and Air Force , died Oct . 9 . He was 92 .
He served in the U . S . Army during the Korean War in 1953 and then enlisted in the U . S . Air Force , serving during the Vietnam era from 1967-68 . He retired from the Air Force in 1976 as an instructor with the rank of master sergeant .
He was a life member of Duncansville VFW Post 8724 , a life member of Martinsburg VFW Post 43 , where he was a past commander , and was a member of American Legion Post 516 and Lodge # 282 F & AM .
He enjoyed fishing , hunting and spending time with his family .
John W . Rohrer 5W2
John Rohrer 5W2 , a retired marketing director at the Interlock Group , died April 21 . He was 90 .
He also was vice president of operations for Engineering Services ; vice president of operations for USA Models ; vice president of operations for Manufacturing Marketing Services ; a human factors engineer at Cigna / Blue Cross ; and QC operations manager for General Electric .
After studying painting and decorating at Williamson he earned a bachelor ’ s degree in engineering at Widener University , and a doctorate in marketing management at Kensington University . He served two years in the Army .
He was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church of Oxford . His hobbies were softball , yardwork , painting , woodworking , and making models .
Thomas E . Wetzel 5W2
Thomas Wetzel 5W2 , a former manager of North East Nazarene Camp , died Aug . 6 . He was 90 .
A committed Christian , he was a member of the Nazarene Church where he served on many boards and led numerous mission trips to other countries to build churches and schools .
Jack E . Feathers 5W4
Jack Feathers 5W4 , a retired mathematics instructor , died June 10 . He was 88 .
He taught mathematics at Fork Union Military Academy and later served as assistant academic dean .
He was a lifetime member of the Fluvanna Volunteer Rescue Squad and Fire Dept . A Virginia State Fire Instructor , he taught general firemanship courses and the EMT course to the community and cadets at the academy .
He used his masonry skills , learned at
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Williamson , to make many brick projects for his community .
He served in the U . S . Army as a surveying instructor , was a deacon at the Fork Union Baptist Church and sang in the choir , and later , joined the Heritage Baptist Church and sang in the choir .
He earned a bachelor ’ s degree at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and an M . Ed . at the University of Virginia .
Ronald Evans 5W5
Ronald Evans , a retired bricklayer , died July 27 . He was 86 .
He began as a bricklayer for the Walton and McClure Co . and then started his own business , R . Evans Construction .
He served over 55 years with the Worcester Fire Dept ., 13 as captain . He also was a board member of the Methacton School District .
He served the Class of 5W5 for many years as its class rep .
James R . Evans 6W0
James Evans 6W0 , a retired carpenter , died June 28 . He was 81 .
He worked as a carpenter for the United Carpenters Union for 39 years and served in the U . S . Marine Reserves for six years . He enjoyed woodworking , especially making toys for his grandchildren , reading about history , spending time with his family , traveling , and reading the bible .
He was a member of United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Calvary Chapel of Chester Springs .
William P . Brown 6W2
William Brown 6W2 , a carpenter , died June 30 .
He began his career doing custom carpentry and housebuilding and then became a construction superintendent working on large commercial projects in eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware . He did several projects for family , friends , and the community .
A lifetime Christian , he was active in his church teaching Sunday school and serving as a deacon and elder . He became Catholic in 2009 .
In retirement , he lived in Florida and formed a shuffleboard group and Sit and Get Fit Group .
James Day 6W2
James Day 6W2 , a retired Philadelphia Electric Co . employee , died Dec . 25 , 2021 . He was 79 .
He worked in research and development at General Electric Aero Space , as a software engineer at Philadelphia Electric Co ., and as a senior software engineer at Siemens Medical .
He served in the U . S . Marine Corps from 1963-67 with a tour of duty in Vietnam , 1964-1965 .
He earned a bachelor ’ s degree in computer science at Philadelphia University .
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He was a life member of Williamson ’ s Alumni Association ; a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church , Harleysville ; a past master of Concordia Lodge # 67 ; a member of Charity Lodge # 190 ; life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars , Post 32 ; Disabled American Veterans , Chapter 25 ; the American Radio Relay League ; First Marine Aircraft Wing Association-Vietnam Service ; Marine Corps Heritage Foundation ; National Rifle Association ; and the National Street Rod Association .
Bryan H . Wert 6W4
Bryan Wert 6W4 , a retired sales engineer , died Nov . 9 . He was 79 .
At the time of his retirement , he was a senior sales engineer at Tinius Olsen Testing Machine Co . Earlier , he was a sales engineer at Bohler Welding Consumables and Pow Con Welding Equipment . Before that , he was a service center manager at Airco Welding and a branch manager for Hobart Welding . He began his career at Eaton Tale and Towne where he was an experimental mechanic , lab technician , plan metallurgist , and welding engineer .
He furthered his education at Temple University where he studied mechanical engineering and metallurgy . He also earned a certificate for radiography , ultrasonic , and penetrant testing .
He served in the U . S . Army Reserves for eight years .
He was a member of the American Society for Materials , American Society for Welding , and the Delaware Valley Thunderbird Club .
Lawrence J . “ Pete ” Peterson 6W5
Lawrence “ Pete ” Peterson , an independent contractor and highly skilled stone mason , died Dec . 6 . He was 78 .
He loved the outdoors , hunting , bike riding , cross country skiing , and playing the guitar .
He was a member of the Susquehannock Trail Club and enjoyed travelling , highlighted by his trip to Alaska .
Thomas J . Borrell Jr . 0W7
Thomas J . “ Turba Tom ” Borrell Jr . 0W7 , a maintenance mechanic , died July 29 . He was 37 .
He worked at Exelon ( now Constellation ) in the Hydro Division .
He was an Eagle Scout in Troop 63 , Cochranville . He enjoyed hunting and doing crossword and sudoku puzzles . He was a member of IBEW Local 614 and Tall Pines Club .
In his early 30s , after becoming interested in diesel performance , he built his own pro street drag truck while documenting his build over the course of several years and gaining 20,000 + followers .
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