EDWARD BIDDLE CLAY Jr.

CLAY

EDWARD BIDDLE JR., "ED CLAY", 86, of Gwynedd PA, died peacefully at Foulkeways, April 20, 2012. Loving husband for 63 years of Julia (Myers), he was the son of the late Edward B. Clay and Katherine (Gossler). Born August 16, 1925 in Chestnut Hill PA. Ed attend-ed Chestnut Hill Academy and graduated from the St George's School in 1943. Upon graduation, Ed entered the Army serving in Patton's 3rd Army and was seriously wounded in Luxembourg in January of 1945. Ed earned a degree in chemical engineering from Princeton University, Class of '47, and was a member of the Ivy Club. While attending Princeton he met Julia Myers of Wyndmoor PA and they were married on September 3, 1948. Ed worked briefly for Campbell Soup and then joined Smith Kline & French for whom he worked as a senior R&D administrator, retiring in 1976 after 27 years of service. Ed began a second career as an artist earning an MFA at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. While Ed painted for a number of years, he became accomplished in the field of art restoration and his work is spread throughout the Philadelphia area. Ed was active in the community serving on the Board of Springside School, raising funds for many charities over the years and was very interested in conservation causes. He served on the Vestry of St. Paul's Church in Chestnut Hill and as treasurer for St. Christopher's in Winter Harbor, Maine. He loved summering in Winter Harbor where he sailed, hiked and enjoyed his family and friends.
Ed was a longtime member of the Orpheus Club and retired as President in 2001. Ed was always ready to sing away at any time, and at any event. In addition to his wife, Julia. He leaves his sisters, Mary Disston of Bryn Mawr PA and Patricia Hancock of East Dorset VT, and his children, Edward (Eileen) of Bryn Mawr PA, Philip (Lydia) of New Canaan CT, Julie Pearson of Darien CT, and Peter (Julie) of Wenham MA. He will be greatly missed by his 11 grandchildren and one great grandchild. The Funeral Service will be held 11 A.M., Saturday, May 12th, at St Paul's Episcopal Church in Chestnut Hill. Donations, in lieu of flowers, can be sent to The Nature Conservancy, P.O. Box 6014, Account # 646320, Albert Lea MN 56007 or The Wissa-hickon Valley Watershed Assn., 12 Morris Rd., Ambler PA 19002.

JACOB F. RUTH