Rev. William H. Bender

Rev. William H. Bender, 95 of Whitehall, honorably retired Minister who lived his life in the service of our everlasting Lord, passed away December 12, 2023. Born in Wichita, Kansas he was the son of the late Leslie and Elise (Harris) Bender. He is survived by his wife, Ellen F. Davis Bender, of Kingston, Pa., who he married in 1952. Bill graduated from Lehigh University with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering in 1949, Princeton Theological Seminary in 1954 and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in West Orange NJ.  He served pastorates in Milan, MO., Trenton, MO., and Califon, NJ. retiring in 1993. Bill served as moderator of the Presbyteries of St Joseph and Newton and provided Pastoral Counseling at Clinton Farms. He was active in Hunterdon County Mental Health Association serving as a member of the committee that established the Hunterdon County Hotline, and a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. Always interested in providing quality education, he was a member of the committee to build a new Voorhees High School and  a member of the North Hunterdon Regional High School Board of Education 1973-1978. Bill has been member of Rotary since 1955 and was given a Paul Harris Fellowship by the North Hunterdon Rotary Club. He also enjoyed being a member of the Kutztown Community Choir the Board of the Pennsylvania Dutch Folk Culture Society and a Fellowship Community Ambassador. In addition to his wife he is survived by his children: John L. Bender husband of Rhonda of Fayetteville AR, Mary Ellen wife of Chuck Sciascia of Bethlehem PA, William D. Bender husband of Sharon of Bethlehem Pa; grandchildren: Emily and Daniel Eisenberg, Hillary and Rob Waterman, Jillian and Tim Hoernle, Jessica and Corey Baldwin, Christopher Sciascia and Natalie Rivera; great grandchildren: Riley B., Jamie S., Cole B., Dez E., Ian H., Lucas H., Trent and Zachary; sister, Edith Campbell of Boulder, CO; cherished cousins; and nieces and nephews. Services will be January 10, 2024 at Fellowship Community Event Center, 3000 Fellowship Drive, Whitehall, PA 18052. Visitation with the family 10am to 11am, services at 11am. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Faith Presbyterian Church, 3002 N 2nd St., Emmaus, Pa. 18049.

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