William A. McKendry

William “Bill” Alexander McKendry, 94, of Freedom Village, passed away on Wednesday, February 13, 2019, at his home.

He was the beloved husband of the late Lucille McKendry, with whom he shared 54 years of marriage at the time of her passing in 2005.

Born on November 30, 1924 in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, Bill was the son of the late Alexander and Agnes McKendry.

He was a 1943 graduate of Freehold High School; then went on to receive his BA in Social Science from Gettysburg College in June 1947 and his MS in Social Work from Columbia University in June 1951.

At the age of 18, Bill enlisted into the Air Force in June 1943. Serving in World War II, he attained the rank of Captain as an Air Force Bombardier/Navigator. Before his release from active duty in December 1945, he had flown 671 hours and executed 39 missions in a B24 with the 13th Air Force ‘Bomber Barons’ in the South Pacific. During the Korean War, he continued serving in a different capacity as a Psychiatric Social Worker and Hospital Administrator at Westover Air Force Base, Mass, from 1951 to 1953.

A champion for the rights of the mentally ill and challenged, Bill worked tirelessly at the local, state and national level to protect rights, advance services, increase funding, and develop effective programing for these often-disadvantaged groups.

He first came to West Chester in 1955 when he was appointed as the first Executive Director of the Chester County Mental Health Clinic. He was recruited to join Pennsylvania Mental Health, Inc. in 1963, as the Eastern Area Director where he co-authored the 1966 Pennsylvania Mental Health Act, which was nationally groundbreaking in its impact on the national standards of care for the mentally ill.

In 1967, Bill was appointed the Chester County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Administrator, spending the next 18 years developing and expanding a network of services for the mentally ill and challenged in the county. Then in 1984, he was appointed by the federal government to act as the Master for the closing of Pennhurst Hospital.

With his passion for education, Bill served part-time as an undergraduate and graduate faculty member for 10 years at West Chester University and on multiple other non-profit Boards including the West Chester School Board.

He was a Rotary member, Eagle Scout and an active member of 64 years at Calvary Lutheran Church in West Chester.

Bill enjoyed spending time with family and friends, traveling all over the nation with his wife in their RV and boating and fishing. You could always find him searching for a good garage sale, which he enjoyed up until the last months of his life.

He loved to ‘tinker’ around his and his children’s houses, as well, as assisting his daughter and son to rehab over a dozen homes. He had a knack for woodworking.

Mr. McKendry is survived by his children, Bonnie Nye (Robert) of Downingtown, Mark William McKendry of West Chester, and Elizabeth McKendry of West Chester; grandchildren, Kelly McCool (Tom), Robyn Wood, Robert Nye IV ( Whitney )and Gustav Schrevelius; great grandchildren, Chelsea McCool (Jon), Megan McCool (Seth), Matthew McCool, Donovan Wood, Avery Wood, Robert ‘Quinn’ Nye V, Pearson Nye and James Nye; great-great grandchild, Anders Hoynak; nieces, Patricia Salada (Edward) and Ann Flynn (Richard); and six great nephews.

In addition to his wife and parents, he was also predeceased by his beloved older sisters, Emily, Margaret and Mabel.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the family ‪from 1:30 to 2:30 PM on Saturday, February 23rd at Calvary Lutheran Church, ‪730 South New Street, West Chester, where a Memorial Service will be held ‪at 2:30 PM. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Bill’s name may be made to your favorite charity.

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