William Chapin Sr.

William R. (Bill) Chapin Sr., 92, of

Wyomissing, Pa., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 13, 2018.

Born in Forty Fort, Pa., he was the son of the late Edward G. Chapin Sr. and Eleanor Jones Chapin. Bill just celebrated his 92nd birthday on November 2nd.

His early education began in the Forty Fort public schools. Bill was a 1944 graduate of Wyoming Seminary in Forty Fort, where he filled several class offices and became the annual yearbook's business manager, serving on its Business, Circulation and Photography Boards. He was a member of the Amphictyou literary society, known for its Annual Debate and Oratorical Contest. Bill was on the JV wrestling and JV football teams, and played baseball throughout his years there. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

While a student at Wharton, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 18. He was trained in electronics in the expanding technologies of radar, sonar and fire control at the Naval training station in Great Lakes, Ill., and later at pre-radio school in Chicago. Due to his college status, Bill was

selected to teach these technologies when later stationed in Treasure Island, Calif. Following his service in the Navy, he returned to and was graduated from Wharton. His

pursuits then took him to Columbus, Ohio, where he joined the Pure Oil Company and took graduate courses at the Ohio State University (OSU).

Following the passing of his father in 1952, Bill returned to his hometown of Kingston, Pa., became actively engaged in family businesses, and in 1955 relocated to the Reading, Pa., area to run Chapin Lumber and Supply Company, which had locations in Kingston, Scranton and Temple, Pa. He served on the board of The Mid-Atlantic Lumberman's Association as well as the Lumberman's Merchandising Corporation (LMC), a Wayne, Pa., materials-buying

cooperative group owned by independent lumber and building material dealers. He also served as a General

Partner in the family real estate holding companies, the Chapin Apartments, Chapin Realty and Chapin

Investments.

In 1954, Bill was married to the former Anne Deeter, of Dallas, Pa. Together they raised four children, with whom they shared their mutual interests in classical and jazz

music, social gatherings for friends, young and old and summers at the Jersey shore. Anne passed in February, 1998. In 2000, Bill married Phyllis E. Jacobi of North Wales, Pa.

He had a strong sense of community and served on the Muhlenberg Rotary Club and as a board member on the Reading Berks Chamber of Commerce, working on the

legislative and membership committees. He was a member for many years of the Berkshire Country Club in Reading, Pa., and the YR Club in Wyomissing. Throughout his life, Bill loved music and was a patron of The Philadelphia

Orchestra and The Reading Symphony Orchestra. Many knew him as a die-hard fan of OSU football.

Since his high school days, Bill was known for his fair play and friendliness, and until the time of his passing, he

maintained his sharp mind and sense of humor.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Anne; brothers, Edward and Kermit Chapin; sisters, Eleanor C. Budinger and Lois C. Johnson.

Bill is deeply missed by his surviving spouse, Phyllis;

children: William R. Chapin Jr. (Beth), Lisa C. Hoffberger (C. Peter), Dr. Scott D. Chapin (Pamela), Carolyn C. Braithwaite (Hugh); step-children: Gary Walton (Diana Gionet), Susan Samson (Gregg), and Scott Walton (Janet); his 12 grandchildren; and seven step-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Bill's family - immediate and extended - was always

foremost in his mind and in his heart. He especially

cherished time spent with his children and grandchildren.

A Celebration of Bill's life will be held on Friday,

November 23 at 12 noon at the Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home Inc., 739 Penn Avenue, West Reading, PA, with

visitation from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Macular Degeneration Research at Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute Development Office, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Wilmer 112, Baltimore, MD 21287-9015, or The Reading Symphony Orchestra,100 N. 5th Street, Reading, PA 19601-3497.

Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home Inc., West Reading, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be

recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhomes.com.