William H. Pfaff, of Warrington, died Saturday, September 1, 2012, at his home. He was 84.

He had shared almost 46 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Rosalia B. Pfaff, who predeceased him in April 2011.

Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late William O. Pfaff and Anna E. (Pasceri) Pfaff.

Whenever William talked about growing up during the Great Depression, he usually mentioned how grateful he was — after attending eight grade schools in Pennsylvania and Florida — to attend all four years at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia and to graduate in 1946.

After the Korean War began in 1950, William enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He received an honorable discharge in 1954 after being stationed in the Pacific, mostly Guam.
Before and after the Navy, William worked nine years to put himself through college at night. In 1961, he earned his bachelor’s degree with first honors in accounting from Drexel University.

William and his beloved Rosalia eventually met while both were attending daily mass in Ardmore, Pa. They married on April 24, 1965.

That same year, William joined Modern Mailers Inc. in Philadelphia. During his 22-year tenure at the direct-mail conglomerate, William was promoted to corporate controller. His responsibilities included managing the core-accounting office for 15 years, first in Glenside, then in Jenkintown.

William spent most of the final decade of his career at the Doylestown office for Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Employer Tax Operations. After retiring in 1997, William held various part-time jobs including Genuardi’s supermarket in Jamison and B&I Auto Supply in Fort Washington, before declining health forced him to stop working only weeks before his 75th birthday.

William was a resident of Warrington for more than 34 years, along with a faithful parishioner of St. Robert Bellarmine Church.

A devoted husband, father and grandfather, William was happiest in his later years whenever he was with his only grandchild, Tara Pfaff.

In addition to his granddaughter, William is survived by his son, Thomas J. Pfaff, of Warrington; his daughter-in-law, Kimberly L. Pfaff; his brother, Fred (Sandra), of Bryn Mawr, Pa.; and a cousin, Deborah S. Gerwe, of Piedmont, S.C., daughter of William’s late sister, Dorothy (Pfaff) Sims.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewing: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, September 9, 2012, at the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, 241 East Butler Ave., (Route 202 & Sandy Ridge Road) New Britain, Pa. 18901; and his Funeral Mass 9:30 a.m. Monday, September 10, 2012, at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, Euclid Ave. & Carriage Way, Warrington, Pa. 18976.

Interment will follow at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery, Newtown.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Doylestown Hospital Visiting Nurse/Home Care Services, 875 N. Easton Road, Doylestown, Pa. 18901, or online at www.dh.org.