William James Barnhurst (Bill), loving husband and father, and dedicated educator, passed away quietly at home in Wallingford, PA on June 29, 2020. He was 92.
Bill was the son of the late Douglas F. Barnhurst and Margaret Mary Daley. He had one brother, James Barnhurst, and one sister, Marie Barnhurst Govus, both of whom have predeceased him. He was raised in Totowa Borough, NJ and graduated Passaic Valley High School. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1946 to 1948, including time stationed in Shanghai, China. Following his Honorable Discharge from the Navy, Bill completed a B.S. from St. Bonaventure College in Olean, NY and a M.S. in Chemistry from Fordham University in New York, NY. He relocated to the Philadelphia area in 1953 to join the faculty of Villanova University. He remained at Villanova as an Assistant Professor in the Chemistry Department for 46 years, serving as Assistant Chair of the department for many of those years.
Bill became a student of Irish culture and took several trips to Ireland, including working trips to Habitat for Humanity sites in Belfast, Northern Ireland with other members of the Villanova community. He was an ardent fan of Villanova basketball and held season tickets for many years. At home, he enjoyed gardening, which he approached as both an art and a science. Bill was a member of St. John Chrysostom parish for 60 years, where he taught CCD and in the 1990’s served as a delegate to the Catholic Campaign for Human Development in the Philadelphia Archdiocese.
Bill is survived by his wife of 66 years, Bernadette Power Barnhurst. He was preceded in death by his grandson, LCpl Eric F Herzberg USMC, who was killed in action in Al Anbar province, Iraq in 2006. Bill will be remembered with love and gratitude by his five children (Marie Barnhurst Robinson, Peggy Goodfellow, Regina Barnhurst, Douglas Barnhurst, and Bernadette Martin), 14 grandchildren (Allison and Erin Barnhurst; Patrick, Colin, Liam, Tiernan, Evan and Mairead Goodfellow; Matthew Herzberg and Katie H Miller; Brendan and Mary Martin; and Christopher and Peirce Robinson), and one great-grandchild (Cali Miller).
Funeral Mass and interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the following organizations will be appreciated by Bill’s family:
Bill was the son of the late Douglas F. Barnhurst and Margaret Mary Daley. He had one brother, James Barnhurst, and one sister, Marie Barnhurst Govus, both of whom have predeceased him. He was raised in Totowa Borough, NJ and graduated Passaic Valley High School. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1946 to 1948, including time stationed in Shanghai, China. Following his Honorable Discharge from the Navy, Bill completed a B.S. from St. Bonaventure College in Olean, NY and a M.S. in Chemistry from Fordham University in New York, NY. He relocated to the Philadelphia area in 1953 to join the faculty of Villanova University. He remained at Villanova as an Assistant Professor in the Chemistry Department for 46 years, serving as Assistant Chair of the department for many of those years.
Bill became a student of Irish culture and took several trips to Ireland, including working trips to Habitat for Humanity sites in Belfast, Northern Ireland with other members of the Villanova community. He was an ardent fan of Villanova basketball and held season tickets for many years. At home, he enjoyed gardening, which he approached as both an art and a science. Bill was a member of St. John Chrysostom parish for 60 years, where he taught CCD and in the 1990’s served as a delegate to the Catholic Campaign for Human Development in the Philadelphia Archdiocese.
Bill is survived by his wife of 66 years, Bernadette Power Barnhurst. He was preceded in death by his grandson, LCpl Eric F Herzberg USMC, who was killed in action in Al Anbar province, Iraq in 2006. Bill will be remembered with love and gratitude by his five children (Marie Barnhurst Robinson, Peggy Goodfellow, Regina Barnhurst, Douglas Barnhurst, and Bernadette Martin), 14 grandchildren (Allison and Erin Barnhurst; Patrick, Colin, Liam, Tiernan, Evan and Mairead Goodfellow; Matthew Herzberg and Katie H Miller; Brendan and Mary Martin; and Christopher and Peirce Robinson), and one great-grandchild (Cali Miller).
Funeral Mass and interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the following organizations will be appreciated by Bill’s family:
- Augustinian Defenders of the Rights of the Poor (A.D.R.O.P.), 2130 S 21ST ST, SECOND FLOOR, PHILADELPHIA, PA, 19145, United Way Donor Choice Code # 29721, or click here to donate online, https://www.augustinianfund.org/donate.
- Cape May Marianist Family Retreat Center. Donations made out to Marianist Society Inc can be mailed to PO Box 488, Cape May Point, NJ 08212 or click here to donate online through Network for Good, https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=222868412&vlrStratCode=FehBZECLaM%2f5Z%2bCKARbtGqpJ%2bqhSOoTM%2b5jjtolcYMZ4loRfD2hHp41UYJ%2f3lC%2bg.