William F. Tait, retired executive at RCA and an avid golfer

William F. Tait, 88, formerly of Abington and Moorestown, a retired RCA vice president, died of a neurological disease Monday at Oak Harbor, a retirement community in Vero Beach, Fla.

Mr. Tait grew up in Los Angeles, where his father designed clothing for the movie industry. As a child, Mr. Tait played one of the characters in the

Our Gang

comedy film series. He later earned a bachelor's degree from Pace University in New York City.

During World War II, he was a communications sergeant in the Eighth Army in Europe and participated in the Battle of the Bulge.

After his discharge he worked for Lockheed, Philco and Ford Motor Co. before joining Radio Corp. of America in Cherry Hill in 1959. He began his career there in electronic sales and eventually became vice president of RCA's government division. Among the projects he supervised was the Aegis radar system for the Navy, said his wife, Elizabeth Cortright Tait. He became friendly with Navy officials, and was past president and lifetime member of the Navy League of the United States. He served on the board of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, and was past treasurer of the Electronic Industries Association.

Mr. Tait and his wife moved to Florida when he retired in 1981.

An avid golfer, he was a member of Huntingdon Valley Country Club, Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey and Glen Cannon Country Club in North Carolina, where he spent the summer for 23 years.

In addition to his wife of 61 years, Mr. Tait is survived by sons William Jr. and Lawrence; daughters Elizabeth Lamb and Sandra Buckles; 12 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held tomorrow at Trinity Church in Vero Beach. A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. John's Episcopal Church Cemetery, 1333 Old Welsh Rd., Huntingdon Valley.