Charles C. Reiff | Engineer, 92

Charles Crowell Reiff, 92, formerly of Glenside, a retired mechanical engineer, died Jan. 9 at Peter Becker Community in Harleysville.

During World War II, Mr. Reiff worked for the Heintz Manufacturing Co. in Philadelphia on military projects and designed waterproof doors for Navy destroyers. After the war he worked for Rockwell Manufacturing in Philadelphia and in Ohio and later was an engineer for Philco Corp. In the 1960s while working for RCA in Camden, he designed a radio antenna for the top of the Empire State Building. He later was an engineer for Milton Roy Co., a manufacturer of metering pumps, and was with Hale Products in Conshohocken, a manufacturer of pumps and valves for fire trucks, when he retired in the late 1970s.

He held a number of patents on his designs, his son Stephen said, and those who worked with him recalled his distinctive, meticulous handwriting.

When his children were young, he designed a wooden box with bells, buzzers, lights and switches to entertain them. He was a photographer, genealogist, gardener and winemaker - though his turnip wine had limited popularity, his son said. He also made mats and picture frames.

Mr. Reiff and his wife, Mildred Hiemer Reiff, were married for 61 years. They met at a Lutheran church in Philadelphia where she was the organist and he sang in the choir. She died in 2003.

In addition to his son, Mr. Reiff is survived by a daughter, Karen Underkoffler; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Services were private.