William Wilhelm
William "Bill" Claude Wilhelm, 77, of Haven I at Concordia Lutheran Ministries in Cabot, formerly of Allegheny Township, died Friday.
Born Jan. 18, 1933, in Lower Burrell, he was a son of the late Thomas Glenn and Naomi Ruth Elwood Wilhelm.
Mr. Wilhelm spent his school years living in Upper Burrell Township, where he with his brother were the first door-to-door paperboys delivering the Daily Dispatch during World War II.
Mr. Wilhelm was a graduate of the New Kensington High School Class of 1950 and has served on the reunion committee for many years.
Mr. Wilhelm served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War aboard the U.S.S. Ingersoll DD652, the U.S.S. Robert H. McCard DD822, and the U.S.S. Hale DD642.
Mr. Wilhelm was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad as a yard clerk and yard master. He was a member of the transition team on the merger of the PRR and the NYC Railroad in 1968. He was appointed senior operations improvement analyst in 1977, and in 1978 he was appointed assistant manager in Greentree, retiring from Conrail in 1990.
He and his wife, Joan, were the owner-operators of the Mister Donut/Dunkin Donut in Allegheny Township from 1983 to 1995.
He is a member of the Ye Old Congruity Presbyterian Church in Salem Township, the Leechburg Elks, the Leechburg VFW, the Vandergrift American Legion, the Tin Can Sailors Association and the U.S.S. Ingersoll Association, where he served as both president and vice president.
He was a member of the Pine Run Presbyterian Church for 35 years, where he was an elder. He organized the drivers for Meals on Wheels in Allegheny Township. Mr. Wilhelm served as an associate for many years.
Mr. Wilhelm enjoyed attending U.S.S. Ingersoll reunions and traveling with his wife on cruises and to Europe. He enjoyed family gatherings at their log home on the Allegheny River and spending holidays with his family.
Mr. Wilhelm is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 55 years, Joan Compton Wilhelm, who he married on Aug. 3, 1954. Also surviving are two sons, Gale (Judy) of Washington Township, and Dr. Royce (Elayne) of Baden; two daughters, Jill Klein of Lower Burrell and Dr. Joy (Dr. William) Rowland of Cleveland, Ohio; eight grandchildren, Joshua Wilhelm, Heather Wilhelm, Daniel Gould, Brian Gould, Donald (Christina) Gould, Jonathan (Sara) Bernstein, Gabrielle Rowland and Alexander Rowland; and four great-grandchildren.
He also is survived by a sister, Sylvia Wilhelm of Oakmont, and a brother, Danny Wilhelm of Deming, N.M.
<B>WILHELM —</B> Friends of William "Bill" Claude Wilhelm, who died Friday, July 2, 2010, will be received from 3 to 8 p.m. today and from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the <B>FRANK F. GIGLER FUNERAL HOME</B>, 2877 Leechburg Road, Lower Burrell. Service and communion will be at 1:30 p.m. with viewing an hour before the service at the Ye Old Congruity Presbyterian Church, Route 22, Salem Township. Everyone is asked to meet at the church. Burial to follow at the Greenwood Memorial Park with full military honors.In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Concordia Lutheran Ministries, Cabot, PA 16023 or to the Congruity Presbyterian Church, 136 Fenneltown Road, New Alexandria, PA 15670.
