William R. "Bill" Chapin Sr.

WYOMISSING — William R. (Bill) Chapin Sr., 92, of Wyomissing, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018.

Born in Forty Fort, he was the son of the late Edward G. Chapin Sr. and Eleanor Jones Chapin. Bill just celebrated his 92nd birthday on Nov. 2. His early education began in 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 Amphictyon 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 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.

Following the passing of his father in 1952, Bill returned to his hometown of Kingston, became actively engaged in family businesses and in 1955 relocated to the Reading area to run Chapin Lumber and Supply Company, which had locations in Kingston, Scranton and Temple. 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. 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 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 Ohio State 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; and 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) and Carolyn C. Braithwaite (Hugh); stepchildren Gary Walton (Diana Gionet), Susan Samson (Gregg) and Scott Walton (Janet); his 12 grandchildren and seven step-grandchildren; and 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 at noon Friday, Nov. 23, at the Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home Inc., 739 Penn Ave., West Reading, with visitation from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Macular Degeneration Research at Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute Development Office, 600 N. Wolfe St., Wilmer 112, Baltimore, MD 21287-9015, or the Reading Symphony Orchestra, 100 N. Fifth St., 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.