William Donovan, Jr.

William F. Donovan, Jr., 87, of Drexel Hill, PA, passed away on August 22, 2021. Born in Darby, PA to the late William F. Donovan, Sr. and Helen (nee Kelley) Donovan.

William served in the United States Navy in the early 1950s. After he left the Navy, William began to work for his father as a plumber for William F. Donovan and Son. He has held many different positions, some of these including President and Secretary of Philadelphia Suburban PHCC and Pennsylvania PHCC, Mayor of Milbourne, PA, Upper Darby Plumbing License Board, State Director for Philadelphia Suburban, and the list goes on. Bill was a member of PHCC since 1967 and an instructor at the PSA PHCC plumbing school for 27 years.

William loved ballroom dancing, traveling, and attending the Philly Pops with his beloved Judy Gentile. He enjoyed teaching, watching his son run cross country at Belmont, attending formal dances in his tux with Judy in her red ballroom gown and cheering on his grandchildren at their various sporting events and on-stage performances!

William was kind, generous, intelligent, very hardworking, and a jokester. His favorite things were his family, Judy, music, cookies, salmon, and dancing. He loved to travel to Puerto Rico, Ireland, Italy, the sea, and Naylors Run.

William is survived by his beloved children Karen Howard (Luke), Nancy Clemens, Patricia Brennan (Dave), William F. Donovan, III (Patricia), Maureen Helms (Jim) and his loving grandchildren Christian, Stephanie, Billy, Julianne, Patrick, Ryan, Sean, Billy D., Erin, Margo, Colleen, and Shannon.

Relatives and friends are invited to William’s Visitation 7:00-9:00 PM Wednesday, August 25, 2021 and on 9:00-10:00 AM Thursday, August 26, 2021 at The Donohue Funeral Home, 8401 West Chester Pike, Upper Darby, PA 19082, followed by his Funeral Mass 10:30 AM at St. Andrew’s Church, 3500 School Lane, Drexel Hill, PA 19026.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in William’s memory to PSA PHCC William Donovan, Jr. Scholarship, PSA PHCC, 4072 Mount Road, Aston, PA 19014, would be greatly appreciated.