Robert A. Wool

Robert A. Wool, 90, of Douglassville, formerly of Sinking Spring, passed away on Thursday, March 2, 2023, in his residence at, Keystone Villa. He was the loving husband to Patricia L. (Diehm) for over 65 years of marriage. Born in Hackensack, NJ, Robert was the son of the late, Daniel and Marie (Carrell) Wool.

Robert was a graduate of Mount Penn H.S. Class of 1951, and spent one year at Penn State, State College. During the early stages of the Korean War, Robert volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corp, but an eye condition kept him from serving. A few months later, he joined the U.S. Air Force, where he served from 1952 to 1955. During the Korean War, Robert was trained as a cryptographer, stationed at the Office of the Chiefs of Staff, located at the Pentagon, in Washington D.C. He saw active duty in Newfoundland, Labrador, and Greenland, where he helped augment the installation of a crypto relay center at Thule Air Base, in Northern Greenland. He was also a member of the U.S. Veteran’s Administration.

Returning from the Korean War, Robert enrolled at Albright College, graduating in 1959, where he was awarded the prestigious J. Bennett Nolan Award, for original local historical research into the history of the Neversink Mountain Railway, and the Mount Penn Gravity Road, both were published by the Berks Historical Society. At Albright College, Robert was a member of Kappa Upsilon Phi Fraternity, and was active in several other student organizations.

He began his long career in the metals industry at the former Carpenter Steel Company, now CarTech. In 1981 he rose to Vice-President at Cressona Aluminum Company, where he traded commodity futures, and primary and secondary aluminum metals. He attended several symposiums, and delivered technical papers on the aluminum industry at various locations, within the United States, Canada, and overseas locations, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Johannesburg, South Africa. Robert had several articles published in the Wall Street Journal, and several trade journals serving the metals industry. He had a lifelong interest in antiques and historical documents.  Robert was also was a regular contributor to the editorial pages of the Reading Eagle Company for over thirty years. 

In addition to his wife Pat, Robert is survived by his daughters, Debra A. Bitler, wife of William, of Birdsboro, and Dyanne S. Terifay, wife of Andrew, of Morgantown. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Joshua, fiancé of Grace, Christian, significant other of Anne, Lauren, and Olivia.

Predeceasing Robert are his brothers, Dr. Arthur L. Wool and Dr. Leroy Wool.

Funeral service for Robert will be held on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 10:00 AM, in Bean Funeral Homes, 6 Fairlane Road, Exeter Township. Rabbi Brian Michelson to officiate. Inurnment will follow in Charles Evans Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and guests in Bean Funeral Home, Exeter Township, on Tuesday, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Robert’s memory to the Coatesville VA Medical Center, 1400 Black Horse Hill Road, Coatesville, PA 19320 or Berks Cats in Crisis, P.O. Box 723, Reading, PA 19607. Online condolences may be made at www.beanfuneralhomes.com