William H. "Bill" Barndt

William H. Barndt, 91, retired U.S. Army Reserve Colonel, prominent business and civic leader, and a long-time resident of West Rockhill Township, passed away on Monday, October 10, 2011, in Dock Terrace – Dock Woods Community, Towamencin Township. He was the husband of Marjorie (Duke) Barndt for 67 years. He would have celebrated his 92nd birthday on October 11.

Born in Perkasie, he was the son of the late Elmer C. and Elizabeth (Roberts) Barndt. He was a 1936 graduate of Sell-Perk High School.

Immediately after graduation, Bill began his banking career at The First National Bank of Philadelphia.

In 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Army. While stationed in Salt Lake City, Utah, he met the love of his life, Marjorie Duke, whom he would marry on April 14, 1944. The next day, he was deployed to the South Pacific Theater, and later, to the Southwest Pacific Theater.

While in the South Pacific, he was a military escort for the Bob Hope U.S.O. troop as they entertained servicemen for ten days on nine different islands.

After his return stateside, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve. In 1948, Major Barndt became an executive officer of the newly-formed 32nd Quartermaster Group Pennsylvania Army National Guard headquarters in Sellersville.

He also served during the Korean War, being deployed to Korea for one year.

Following the war, Bill commanded the 2059th U.S. Army Reserve School, Bethlehem, from 1966 until 1972. After 31 years service, Colonel Barndt retired from the military in 1973.

Upon his return to civilian life, Bill continued his banking career. After the merger of First National Bank with the Pennsylvania Company in 1955, he was assigned to the main office operations as Assistant Treasurer. He was named Vice-President in 1961 and Senior Vice-President in 1970. In 1972, he assumed the responsibility for the bank’s Metropolitan Department, consisting of 80 branches in seven counties.

Bill was then named as Assistant to the Chairman of First Pennsylvania Bank and First Pennsylvania Corporation in 1974. In March 1979, he was named Executive Vice-President of the Administration Services Group, with primary responsibilities for personnel, security, property and purchasing, and word processing. After 45 years service, he retired in 1981.

Mr. Barndt studied at the Wharton Evening School of Accounts and Finance at the University of Pennsylvania, completed courses from the American Institute of Banking, and was a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University.

Active in many civic and community affairs, particularly in Philadelphia, he was known best for his influential service to The Pennsylvania Society. He served as Treasurer for several years until his appointment as Executive Director in 1982, a position he held for 18 years until his retirement in 2000.

For more than 25 years, he also was active with regional United Way Campaigns.

Bill served for many years as a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committees for the following regional and local organizations: Police Athletic League of Philadelphia; Crime Commission of Philadelphia; Professional Firms Department, Philadelphia, serving as Vice-Chairman in 1978; Chairman of the Ports Committee of the Penjerdel Council; Board Member of the Port Corporation of Philadelphia; Philadelphia Council of the Boy Scouts of America; and the Freedom Valley Council of the Girl Scouts of America, serving as its treasurer for six years.

He also served on the boards of the Americans for the Competitive Enterprise System; Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce; U.S.O. of Philadelphia, Inc.; Pennsylvania Committee for Employer Support of The Guard and Reserve, serving as State Chairman for four years; Montgomery County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Economy League; Bucks County Industrial Development Corporation, serving as its President for two years; North Penn Chamber of Commerce, Lansdale, serving as its President for two years; and Nockamixon-Bucks Industrial and Commercial Development Authority.

In 1954, he helped to organize the Pennridge Junior Chamber of Commerce, Perkasie. Mr. Barndt served as president of the Philadelphia Junior Chamber of Commerce the following year.

He was also an honorary member of the Grand View Hospital Board of Directors, West Rockhill Township, with six years as treasurer.

Mr. Barndt also was an elected local official, sitting on the West Rockhill Township Board of Supervisors for a number of years.

Bill was a long-time active member of the American Legion Nase-Kraft Post 255, Sellersville.

Interested in local history, he was a member of the West Rockhill Historical Society in his later years. He also enjoyed gardening.

Mr. Barndt was a member of St. Andrew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Perkasie.

In addition to his wife, Bill is survived by two sons: Stephen D. Barndt, and his wife, Kathleen Lyons Barndt, of Greenwich, New Jersey; and Douglas R. Barndt, and his wife, Maria, of Park City, Utah; a daughter, Suzanne B. Travers, and her husband, John, of Telford; six grandchildren: William T. Barndt, Douglas S. Barndt, Megan Algeo, Jonathan Algeo, Haley Barndt, and April Barndt; two great-grandchildren: Nathaniel Barndt and Marjorie Duke Barndt; and one sister, Dorothy "Toots" Anglemoyer, of Wisconsin.

He was preceded in death by four brothers: Ralph "Butch" Barndt, Charles Barndt, Russell Barndt, and Paul Bowen; and two sisters: Margaret I. "Peg" Bowen Stofflet and Betty Reyner.

His Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, November 5, 2011, in St. Andrew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Dill Avenue and Chestnut Street, Perkasie, PA 18944. The family will greet friends following the service.

Interment with military honors will be conducted at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the United Way of Bucks County, 413 Hood Boulevard, Fairless Hills, PA 19030.