William B. Vandervort Jr.

William B. Vandervort, Jr., age 63, of Erie, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, March 16, 2012, at Select Specialty Rehabilitation Center following an extended illness. He was born in Erie on April 11, 1948, a son of the late William Sr. and Martha Aldine Martz Vandervort. Bill was a 1966 graduate of Academy High School and a 1968 graduate of the Erie Business Center. He then went on to serve his country in the United States Army, earning the Army Commendation Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) for his meritorious service in the Republic of Vietnam. Bill was an Administrative Assistant with Penelec and later was a Property Coordinator for Rent Way. In 1980 he was ordained a Ruling Elder in the Westminster United Presbyterian Church and was a charter member of Church of the Cross. Bill also held memberships in the Lawrence Lodge #708 F.&A.M., AASR-Valley of Erie and Koinonia of Erie County. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Karen Weber Vandervort; one son, Matthew Vandervort of California and his fiancée, Joan Berning; two sisters, Barbara Triana and her husband, Terry, and Deborah Slagle and her husband, Larry, all of Erie; one brother-in-law, David Weber and his wife, Kathy, of Tampa, Fla.; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. Friends may call at the Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home Inc., 5000 Wattsburg Rd., Erie, PA 16504 on Tuesday from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Additional calling will be held on Wednesday morning at Church of the Cross from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor James Moelk officiating. Interment with full military honors will follow in Laurel Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Church of the Cross, 5901 Millfair Rd., Fairview, PA 16415. To sign the book of memories please visit www.schmidtfuneralhomeerie.com.