The Life of William Henry Dorrance Jr
William Henry Dorrance, Jr. of Smyrna, passed away Friday, April 27, 2018 at the Delaware Hospice Center, Milford. He was 89.
Mr. Dorrance was born September 17, 1928 in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania to the late William H. Dorrance, Sr. and Cecilia Ashley Dorrance. He lived in Drexel Hill for 57 years and moved to Smyrna, DE with his daughter Cheryl and her family in 2009.
He served in the United States Army between WWII and the Korean War. After his military service Mr. Dorrance went to work in the family publishing business, "Dorrance & Company Inc." in Philadelphia, which was started by his father and cousin. In 1960 he left the publishing business, after the company was sold, and went to work for companies such as Boeing Vertol, Burroughs (Unisys), Honeywell, DuPont, Pandrol and Manufacturers' Appraisal Company. Over the years he worked as a production editor, salesman, engineering clerk and a self-taught draftsman. He even designed a small conveyor system for Pandrol. Finally finishing his career, as a Supply Clerk, at the General Service Administration, which supplies products to U.S. Government Offices all over the country, he retired in 1994.
Mr. Dorrance was a black powder, gun and aviation enthusiast, lover of nature, animals and, as he put it, “the Great Outdoors”. He was an expert Marksman in the U.S. Army and he took flying lessons at age 16. He was a long-time member of the NRA and a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Dover.
He
married the love of his life Louise Swartz in 1952, whom he has missed
dearly over the last 18 years. Bill was a devoted husband, amazing
father and loving grandfather/great-grandfather, who will be sorely
missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his daughters, Dorothy
Sheehan of Gaffney, South Carolina, Barbara and husband Scott MacAdam of
Middletown, DE, Cheryl and husband Deano Nicolo of Smyrna, DE;
grandchildren Wendy Sheehan-O'Bryant and husband Kelvin, Heather
Sheehan, Christina Sheehan, William MacAdam, Alexander Nicolo,
Christopher Nicolo, Victoria Nicolo-Brobst and husband Austin and Great
grandchild Olivia O'Bryant.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Swartz Dorrance and granddaughter, Bonnie MacAdam.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday, May 4, 2018 at Christ Episcopal Church, 501 S. State Street, Dover.
Interment will follow the service at Arlington Cemetery, 2900 State Rd.
Drexel Hill, PA 19026
In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions be made to Christ Episcopal Church, PO Box 1374, Dover, DE 19903.