William H. "Bill" Gelbach Jr., a resident of Quincy Village and formerly of 3407 Leitersburg Pike, Waynesboro, died around 2:45 p.m. Monday, May 31, 2010, in his apartment at Quincy Village.
Born Jan. 22, 1921 in Hagerstown, Md., he was the son of the late William H. Sr. and Beulah B. (Nicodemus) Gelbach. He lived most of his life in the Waynesboro area.
He graduated from Waynesboro High School with the Class of 1939. He later received his Bachelor of Science degree in economics from Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania Class of 1943. He also attended the University of Indiana Graduate School of Savings and Loan.
Mr. Gelbach served with the United States Army Corp of Engineers, serving in the South Pacific Theater during World War II.
He and his wife, the late Doris E. (Hoffman) Gelbach, were married Oct. 25, 1958 in the Waynesboro Church of the Brethren. They moved to Leitersburg Pike in 1959. Mrs. Gelbach died May 16, 2005. He moved to Quincy Village in January 2009.
In his early life, Mr. Gelbach worked for Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford, Conn., where he did various assignments in the investments and mortgage departments in Hartford, Pennsylvania and New York. In 1950 he returned to Waynesboro and established the W.H. Gelbach Insurance and Investment Firm, which later became Waynesboro Building & Loan. Then in 1971, he orchestrated and built the Waynesboro Savings Association and served as Chief Executive Officer and President. Then the Waynesboro Savings Association merged with Home Federal Savings Bank in Hagerstown in 1976. He remained with the company as an advisor and served on the Board of Directors.
Through his working years, he also was involved with King Merritt and Company as a registered representative of mutual fund sales; Cohu and Company of New York, N.Y. with the New York Stock Exchange as a registered representative; a registered representative for H.A. Riecke Company of Securities and Investment Counsel; and was an agent for Equitable Life Assurance. He retired in 1988.
He was a member of: Trinity United Church of Christ, Waynesboro, where he served on consistory and was a trustee; Rotary Club of Waynesboro, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow and served as Treasurer from 1967 through 1971, President from 1973-1974, and as assistant District Governor for six years; the Waynesboro YMCA Board of Directors from 1952-1978, serving as treasurer and vice president and was the Y's Fund Campaign Chairman in 1951; American Institute Real Estate Appraisers; Franklin County Association of Life Underwriters, serving as President in 1952-1953; Board of Directors and Vice President of Totem Pole Playhouse in Fayetteville; Board of Directors of the Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce, where he served as President in 1972-1973; Central Pennsylvania Savings and Loan League Board of Directors, where he served as President from 1983-1985; Council of Mutual Savings Institutions Board of Directors and served as regional vice-president from 1981-1988; American Red Cross Board of Directors from 1951-1957 and was Chairman of the American Red Cross Fund Campaign in 1952-1953; Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity; Knights of Pythias; Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks; Sons of American Revolution, serving with the Conocheague Chapter in 1954; University of PA Club in New York City; Joe Stickell American Legion Post 15, Waynesboro; William Max McLaughlin V.F.W. Post 695, Waynesboro; South Chapter 2977 AARP, national AARP, Mount Pisgah Lodge 443 Free and Accepted Masons, Greencastle, Harrisburg Consistory, Zembo Temple, Alpha Club of Philadelphia; served as treasurer and finance committee chairman of the Penn Laurel Council of Girl Scouts and a District Committee member of the Mason Dixon Boy Scouts Council; B.P.O. Elks Lodge 731, Waynesboro; and AmVets.
Mr. Gelbach and his wife bred Dorset sheep on a small farm. He also enjoyed traveling, golfing, theater, musicals, swimming, and the culinary arts.
He is survived by one daughter, Kimberly Ann "Kim" DiBenedetto of Philadelphia; one son, William H. "Trey" Gelbach III of Waynesboro; and one granddaughter, Alessandra DiBenedetto.
Services were held the morning of Friday, June 4 in Trinity United Church of Christ, Waynesboro with Rev. Sue D’Heedene officiating.
Burial was in Green Hill Cemetery, Waynesboro.
Arrangements were handled by Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, Waynesboro, where a Masonic memorial service was conducted Thursday by Mount Pisgah Lodge 443.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Antietam Humane Society, 8513 Lyons Road, Waynesboro or Renfrew Museum & Park, 1010 East Main Street, Waynesboro, PA 17268.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.bowersoxfuneralhomes.com
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William H. "Bill" Gelbach Jr., a resident of Quincy Village and formerly of 3407 Leitersburg Pike, Waynesboro, died around 2:45 p.m. Monday, May 31, 2010, in his apartment at Quincy Village.
Born Jan. 22, 1921 in Hagerstown, Md., he was the son of the late William H. Sr. and Beulah B. (Nicodemus) Gelbach. He lived most of his life in the Waynesboro area.
He graduated from Waynesboro High School with the Class of 1939. He later received his Bachelor of Science degree in economics from Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania Class of 1943. He also attended the University of Indiana Graduate School of Savings and Loan.
Mr. Gelbach served with the United States Army Corp of Engineers, serving in the South Pacific Theater during World War II.
He and his wife, the late Doris E. (Hoffman) Gelbach, were married Oct. 25, 1958 in the Waynesboro Church of the Brethren. They moved to Leitersburg Pike in 1959. Mrs. Gelbach died May 16, 2005. He moved to Quincy Village in January 2009.
In his early life, Mr. Gelbach worked for Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford, Conn., where he did various assignments in the investments and mortgage departments in Hartford, Pennsylvania and New York. In 1950 he returned to Waynesboro and established the W.H. Gelbach Insurance and Investment Firm, which later became Waynesboro Building & Loan. Then in 1971, he orchestrated and built the Waynesboro Savings Association and served as Chief Executive Officer and President. Then the Waynesboro Savings Association merged with Home Federal Savings Bank in Hagerstown in 1976. He remained with the company as an advisor and served on the Board of Directors.
Through his working years, he also was involved with King Merritt and Company as a registered representative of mutual fund sales; Cohu and Company of New York, N.Y. with the New York Stock Exchange as a registered representative; a registered representative for H.A. Riecke Company of Securities and Investment Counsel; and was an agent for Equitable Life Assurance. He retired in 1988.
He was a member of: Trinity United Church of Christ, Waynesboro, where he served on consistory and was a trustee; Rotary Club of Waynesboro, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow and served as Treasurer from 1967 through 1971, President from 1973-1974, and as assistant District Governor for six years; the Waynesboro YMCA Board of Directors from 1952-1978, serving as treasurer and vice president and was the Y's Fund Campaign Chairman in 1951; American Institute Real Estate Appraisers; Franklin County Association of Life Underwriters, serving as President in 1952-1953; Board of Directors and Vice President of Totem Pole Playhouse in Fayetteville; Board of Directors of the Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce, where he served as President in 1972-1973; Central Pennsylvania Savings and Loan League Board of Directors, where he served as President from 1983-1985; Council of Mutual Savings Institutions Board of Directors and served as regional vice-president from 1981-1988; American Red Cross Board of Directors from 1951-1957 and was Chairman of the American Red Cross Fund Campaign in 1952-1953; Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity; Knights of Pythias; Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks; Sons of American Revolution, serving with the Conocheague Chapter in 1954; University of PA Club in New York City; Joe Stickell American Legion Post 15, Waynesboro; William Max McLaughlin V.F.W. Post 695, Waynesboro; South Chapter 2977 AARP, national AARP, Mount Pisgah Lodge 443 Free and Accepted Masons, Greencastle, Harrisburg Consistory, Zembo Temple, Alpha Club of Philadelphia; served as treasurer and finance committee chairman of the Penn Laurel Council of Girl Scouts and a District Committee member of the Mason Dixon Boy Scouts Council; B.P.O. Elks Lodge 731, Waynesboro; and AmVets.
Mr. Gelbach and his wife bred Dorset sheep on a small farm. He also enjoyed traveling, golfing, theater, musicals, swimming, and the culinary arts.
He is survived by one daughter, Kimberly Ann "Kim" DiBenedetto of Philadelphia; one son, William H. "Trey" Gelbach III of Waynesboro; and one granddaughter, Alessandra DiBenedetto.
Services were held the morning of Friday, June 4 in Trinity United Church of Christ, Waynesboro with Rev. Sue D’Heedene officiating.
Burial was in Green Hill Cemetery, Waynesboro.
Arrangements were handled by Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, Waynesboro, where a Masonic memorial service was conducted Thursday by Mount Pisgah Lodge 443.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Antietam Humane Society, 8513 Lyons Road, Waynesboro or Renfrew Museum & Park, 1010 East Main Street, Waynesboro, PA 17268.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.bowersoxfuneralhomes.com
