William Barndt, 91, bank executive

William H. Barndt, 91, of West Rockhill, Bucks County, an executive vice president of the former First Pennsylvania Banking & Trust Co. when he retired in 1981, died on Monday, Oct. 10, at Dock Terrace, a nursing home in Towamencin Township.

From 1982 to 2000, Mr. Barndt was executive director of the Pennsylvania Society, known for its annual Manhattan weekend in December where the state's top politicians mix with its top business leaders.

Born in Perkasie, Mr. Barndt graduated from the former Consolidated Sellersville Perkasie High School in 1936 and began his career at the First National Bank of Philadelphia.

A daughter, Suzanne B. Travers, wrote in biographical notes that in 1942 Mr. Barndt enlisted in the Army, beginning a military career that ended with the rank of colonel in the Army Reserve in 1973.

During World War II, he served in the Quartermaster Corps in the South Pacific, working at one time as a military escort for a Bob Hope USO show that visited nine islands in 10 days.

While with a Pennsylvania Army National Guard unit in Sellersville, he was recalled to active duty during the Korean conflict and was executive officer of a supply depot in Korea.

In his part-time military life, he commanded the 2059th Army Reserve School in Bethlehem, Pa., from 1966 to 1972.

His daughter said that Mr. Barndt attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the American Institute of Banking, and graduated from the Stonier School of Banking at Rutgers University.

In his civilian banking career with First Pennsylvania, he became vice president in 1961, senior vice president in 1970, and metropolitan department chief in 1972, covering seven counties.

His daughter wrote that in 1974 he became assistant to the chairman of First Pennsylvania and in 1979 executive vice president of its administration services group.

In 1954, he helped found the Pennridge Junior Chamber of Commerce, and in 1955 he was elected president of the Philadelphia Junior Chamber of Commerce, according to a newspaper report.

Mr. Barndt was a member of the West Rockhill Township Board of Supervisors, a treasurer of Grand View Hospital in Sellersville and, in the 1970s, president of the Bucks County Industrial Development Corp.

Besides his daughter, Mr. Barndt is survived by his wife of 67 years, Marjorie; sons Stephen and Douglas; a sister; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was set for 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Dill Avenue and Chestnut Streets, Perkasie. Visitation is to follow the service.