William Sturgis Speaker, Jr.

William “Bill” Sturgis Speaker, Jr., 92, of West Chester, PA passed away, peacefully, on April 3, 2024.

Born in West Conshohocken, PA in 1931, he was the son of the late William Sturgis and Kathryn (née Kintzley) Speaker, Sr.

Bill was the beloved husband, for 66 years, of Georgeann (née Hollingsworth) Speaker; loving father of William S. Speaker, III (wife, Susan) and Charlene Speaker-Grove (husband, David); proud grandfather of Chase Speaker (fiancé, Christina Callahan), Connor Speaker, Shelby Speaker, Holly Speaker-Cadugan and Tyler Grove; dear brother of Kenneth Jacob Speaker; and dear uncle of Kenneth Christopher Speaker.

Bill was a graduate of West Conshohocken High School. In April 1951, he enlisted in the US Navy and was commissioned as a Naval Officer in October 1954.  He served honorably as a Naval pilot, flight instructor and reconnaissance pilot in Vietnam. During his time in active service, he and his young family, were stationed in Rhode Island, Florida, Texas, and New Jersey. He retired, as a Lieutenant Commander, in Lakehurst, NJ in June 1971, after 20 years of dedicated service.  The final portion of his flying career, until the age of 81, was spent as a flight simulation instructor in corporate aircraft.

Once retired from the service, Bill flew for several corporations, including Jet Aviation and Atlantic Aviation, during which time, as a test pilot, he set several land speed records trans-continentally.

He and his family moved to West Chester in 1980. Bill was a longtime member of St. Francis-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church. He was also a member of Concord Country Club, where he loved to play golf, and had the proud accomplishment of three holes-in-one.  

Relatives and friends are invited to his Visitation 10:30-11:00 AM and to his Funeral Service 11:00 AM Saturday, April 13, 2024 at St. Francis-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, 689 Sugartown Rd, Malvern, PA 19355.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Brandywine Valley SPCA, www.bvspca.org or The Wounded Warrior Project, https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org