William Filer

William E. Filer, 88, of Wernersville, passed away Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 8:50 pm in The Reading Hospital & Medical Center. Born in Shamokin, he was the son of the late Thomas E. and Catherine (Reed) Filer and the brother of the late Thomas R. and Warren R. Filer. The husband of Ruth M.(Jones) Filer, who predeased him on December 16, 2001, following a 56 year marriage, Bill was the father of two sons, The Rev. Carl W. husband of Barbara L.(McNitt) Filer of Spring Township and Douglas J. husband of Debra(Swoyer) Filer of Grants Pass, Oregon. Bill had two grandsons, Douglas J. II and Gregory M. Filer and one granddaughter, Allison N. Filer. Bill was a member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Shillington, where his son Carl is senior pastor. Following graduation from Reading High School in 1940, Bill began a 42 year career at the Glidden Paint Co. most of which was spent as a maintenance eletrician. He served for many years there as the recording secretary of Local 1309, the Paintmakers and Paperhangers affiliate of the AFL-CIO. Bill's passion was sports. Along with coaching the church basketball team to a league championship at Alsace Lutheran Church, he was a founding member of the Muhlenberg Township Athletic Association where he was the first head coach of the Riverview Park Blue Devils football team, going undefeated their first year and winning two league championships during his six year tenure. A committed churchman, Bill sang in the senior choir and served two terms on council at Alsace Lutheran Church.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 30 Liberty Street, Shillington, PA 19607 in memory of Mr. William E. Filer.