Peter J. Farmer | Banker, 76
Peter J. Farmer, 76, of Bedminster, a retired banker and civic leader, died at home Saturday of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Mr. Farmer graduated from Springfield High School in Montgomery County and then served in the mainland U.S. Army during the Korean War.
Peter J. Farmer, 76, of Bedminster, a retired banker and civic leader, died at home Saturday of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Mr. Farmer graduated from Springfield High School in Montgomery County and then served in the mainland U.S. Army during the Korean War.
In 1955, he began his banking career with Inter County Savings and Loan Association in Chestnut Hill. He was assistant treasurer at Inter County when he left in 1962 to join Trevose Savings and Loan Association. He eventually became president of Trevose and later of its parent company, Horizon Financial. He was chairman of Horizon from 1987 until his retirement in 1990.
Mr. Farmer believed in giving back to his community, said his wife, Barbara Warren Farmer. He served on the boards of the Washington Crossing Foundation, the Community Welfare Council of Newtown, Pickering Manor Home in Newtown, and several other organizations. While serving on the board of St. Mary's Medical Center in Langhorne, he chaired two major capital campaigns. He was a past member of the Philadelphia Citizens Crime Commission.
Four years ago, he was hired as project administrator for the recently constructed Bucks County Tourist Commission building in Bensalem.
Mr. Farmer and his wife lived on a farm in Langhorne for 21 years before moving to Bedminster eight years ago. He enjoyed being a gentleman farmer, she said. He was proud of the Suffolk and Dorset sheep he raised, and checked on them every morning before going to the bank. "He knew," she said, "they would never ask him what the interest rate would be that day." He enjoyed cutting the lawn and yard work, she said, and considered playing golf to be a chore.
In addition to his wife of 50 years, Mr. Farmer is survived by daughters Colleen Polk and Sandra Reyher; two brothers; and a sister. A son, Andrew, died in 1995.
A funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3668 Ridge Rd., Perkasie. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. tomorrow at Fluehr Funeral Home, 241 E. Butler Ave., New Britain.