William "Bill" Irving, Jr.

William (Bill) Irving, age 94, passed away peacefully, with his family present, on the evening of Monday, December 14, 2020.

Bill was born, in Philadelphia, on September 24, 1926. He was raised in Kensington, and graduated from Northeast High School.

Bill was an avid coin collector and crossword puzzler. A voracious reader, his day could not start without reading The Inquirer. Over the course of his full life, Bill amassed quite a library of books on a wide range of topics, being especially drawn to mysteries, westerns and Civil War books. Bill also possessed a sizable number of records, VHS tapes and DVDs to pass the time. Each year, he looked forward to an annual trip with his son and grandsons to a different Civil War battlefield and attending performances by his granddaughter.

Additionally, Bill liked to relax by watching movies—John Wayne films were a particular favorite. He experienced the ups and downs of being an Eagles and Phillies fan, attending the NFL Championship games in the late 1940s with his sister, Jean.

Bill was a devoted husband to his wife of 48 years, Dorothy. As a proud dad and grandpa, he was always involved in the lives of his children and grandchildren, attending their various activities. A long time member of the Covenant United Methodist Church, in Drexel Hill, Bill could more recently be found serving as an usher at the Hope United Methodist Church in Havertown.

Bill was a Korean Era veteran, who was stationed in Japan in the early 1950s. After the war, he worked for the Veterans Administration and later, for the Department of Defense until his retirement in the mid 1980s.

Bill was predeceased by his wife Dorothy, his parents, William and Jean (nee McGhee) as well as his sister, Jean Lancaster. He is survived by his children, Bill (Maureen), and Joan (Warren), as well as grandchildren, Alicia, Jamie and Billy.

Both the viewing and burial are private.