William T. Weir
November 13, 1921 - December 30, 2013

William T. Weir (IV), P.E., of Ambler, PA died at home on December 30. He was the devoted husband of Mary (Grim), who predeceased him by ten days after a marriage of almost 67 years. He was the loving father of Sally Hayden (Ralph), Lucinda Veit (Kenneth), and W. Thomson ((Kathleen), bragging Pop-Pop of 9, and doting Great-grandfather to 7 with one more soon to be born. "Bill" was born in Sellersville on November 13, 1921 to C. Raymond and Sara (Texter) Weir, but lived the majority of his years in Ambler Borough. He graduated from Ambler High School in 1939, and through the years has helped to organize class reunions, including the 74th held in October with a sizeable group of dedicated alumni. World War II called him to the US Army, where he was deemed combat engineer material and was sent to Western Maryland College, after which he joined the 84th Railsplitter Division, landing him in the Ardennes region with his own "band of brothers", a close-knit group now with only two remaining survivors, for the Battle of the Bulge. While waiting for transport home, he was able to further his engineering education with an assignment to Northern Polytechnic Institute in London. On returning home, he completed a degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania in 1949. His first job was as a Bridge Draftsman for the Reading Railroad, and thus his fascination with bridges was born. The culmination of his fascination with bridges was a Father's Day trip with children and grandchildren in tow, to walk the Brooklyn Bridge. When he returned back to the Borough of Ambler, he served as Civil Engineer for many local municipalities and water companies, including Upper Dublin, Upper Gwynedd, Upper Merion, the Borough of Ambler, North Wales Water Company and the Ambler Borough Water Company. His mind held as many details of the below ground infrastructure as the blueprints did. He was a man blessed to love his work and carried it beyond his desk and drafting table by becoming charter President of the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors from 1969-1971 and later being awarded "Fellow" status for his body of work within that professional association. In similar fashion, he was awarded Life Membership in the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1986 as well as the American Water Works Association in 1971. In 1990, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives saw fit to cite his outstanding contribution to the refinement of the one-call system in Pennsylvania. Bill was committed to the values of Rotary International, and served in leadership positions periodically for the Ambler chapter, for which he was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow in 1983. He seldom missed a meeting - even on vacations he would find the local chapter and meeting, and swap the local banner with that club. The last project which called upon his particular expertise and energy, the Centennial Project of establishing a bridge over the Wissahickon Creek on the property of the Wissahickon Valley Watershed, provided a crucial link to complete the Green Ribbon Trail.
Outside of his career, Bill engaged in many other activities. Together with his wife Mary, he was a long standing member of Calvary Methodist Church, and often served as a trustee. They welcomed many international students to their home and family life through the International House, American Field Service and Rotary. He put his trombone (ever the noble instrument in his mind) to use in the Germantown symphony before the war, and with the Ambler Symphony between 1952 and 1985. His wood shop and metal shop were the sites of many a handcrafted item (26 mantel clocks for friends and family as well as one grandfather clock for home) and fix it projects for family as well as neighbors. Sailing was a passion and for many years he enjoyed exploring the Chesapeake with a crew of close friends. Bill loved to read, and shared his passion for reading and learning throughout life by passing out books and articles to friends and strangers alike. He was an avid photographer with a sophisticated darkroom. It was this skill that led to his being involved in a project very close to his heart, the updating of a book entitled Penn's Woods:1682-1982 which is a chronicle in word and image of trees that were growing when William Penn claimed his gift from the English crown. Bill served on the committee, hunted down many of these antique trees, and photographed the ones he found to include in the book.
Since the core of his professional life was focused on ensuring a fresh water supply to the local community, the family asks that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association, 12 Morris Road, Ambler, PA 19002.

Relatives and friends are invited to call after 9:30 AM Monday January 6, 2014 at the Auditorium of Gwynedd Estates 301 Norristown Road Ambler and to the combined Memorial Service for Mary and Bill at 11:00 AM. Interment will be private. Photos and tributes may be shared at www.UrbanFuneralHome.com

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