William F. Whitehead | Retired chemist, 96

William F. Whitehead, 96, of Lansdowne, a retired chemist and decorated World War II veteran, died Thursday of heart failure at Sunrise Assisted Living at Granite Run in Media.

Mr. Whitehead graduated from Frankford High School and then went to work for Arco Chemical Co. in Philadelphia. He met his future wife, Sara Doorey, on an elevator in his building. While dating, their son Paul said, they spent winter weekends skiing in the Poconos.

During World War II, Mr. Whitehead enlisted in the 10th Mountain Division. The unit, whose members had ski and mountaineering experience, saw combat in Italy between December 1944 and the German surrender in May 1945. Mr. Whitehead was awarded the Bronze Star and the Silver Star for his leadership as a sergeant directing his men in assaults under heavy fire on two occasions in April 1945. He was wounded, his son said, but turned down a Purple Heart because so many men died or were seriously hurt.

After his discharge he returned to Arco. He retired as a senior technician in the mid-1970s.

While raising a family, Mr. Whitehead was a Cub Scout master and coached sports at St. Philomena's School in Lansdowne. He organized and coached a high school girls track club that won medals at the annual track competition sponsored by The Inquirer and he later coached a team from Archbishop Prendergast High School in Drexel Hill.

He taught his children to ski, his son said, and visited Army buddies who opened a ski resort in Vail, Colo. At 63 he learned to water ski.

Mr. Whitehead enjoyed boating on the Chesapeake and traveling to Europe and the Far East.

In addition to his son Paul, he is survived by sons William and Brian; a daughter, Margaret McGarrigan; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. His wife of 63 years died in 2006.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. today at Toppitzer Funeral Home at Arlington, 2900 State Rd., Drexel Hill. Friends may call at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Arlington Cemetery.