William Porter "Bill" Tait Jr.

William Porter Tait Jr. of West Chester William "Bill" Porter Tait, Jr., 91, of West Chester died Monday afternoon, October 18, 2010. He was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Stratford, N.J. Following graduation from Haddon Heights High, he worked for Esterbrook Pen Company then Price Waterhouse while attending night school at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School. He was drafted into the Army in 1941, months before the U.S. entered World War II. He served in North Africa, France and Germany, leaving Germany 8 months after cease-fire was declared. He was discharged as a Major, then joined the reserves, retiring as a Lt. Col after 20 years. In 1948 he graduated from Rutgers magna cum laude in economics, but not before meeting Ruth Van Duyne. The two were married Sept. 18, 1948. He earned his CPA in 1950 while employed by Price Waterhouse. He worked for Thomas M. O'Neill and Campbell Soup then took a position at Lukens Steel in Coatesville and settled in West Chester in 1958. He retired from Lukens after 27 years. He served as Coatesville Savings and Loan director, West Goshen Sewer Authority and on the PTA both on local and state levels, as American Legion Post treasurer he founded the ALP Trust, which provides scholarships. He founded The Specialist Club investment group. He had been active in the United Methodist Church of West Chester where he served as finance chair, a board member and sang in the choir for 49 years. During retirement he shared his expertise as a volunteer financial advisor and enjoyed life's adventures by traveling extensively with his wife and family. He is survived by his loving wife Ruth, daughters Nancy V. Tait and Susan K. T. Cunningham, son-in-law Glenn K. Cunningham, grandchildren Molly Reid and husband Tony, Rebecca Owen and husband Jorj, Nathan Cunningham and wife Lisa "Q", and Lisa Cunningham and great-grandson Kael Reid, as well as his brother James K. Tait. He was predeceased by his parents, William Porter Tait, Sr. and Marian Fogartie Kelley Tait and brothers Thomas K. Tait and David P. Tait. Many thanks to the kind people at Barclay Friends and Neighborhood Hospice for their loving care. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 24, at the United Methodist Church of West Chester, 129 South High Street, West Chester, PA 19382. Burial will be private. Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the United Methodist Church of West Chester at the above address. Arrangements are being handled by the Founds Funeral Home, Inc., West Chester, (610) 696-0134. For online memorials please visit www.foundsfuneralhome.com.