William J. Phelan, Sr.

William J. Phelan, Sr., 98, of 349 N. Main St., Meadville, died Thursday, April 13, 2006 at his residence following a period of declining health.

He was born October 12, 1907 in Sharon, a son of the late Dr. Richard and Teresa Carney Phelan.  He married Ada L. Bougher, of Wheatland, August 2, 1947 and she preceded him in death September 17, 2005.

Mr. Phelan and his family were former members of Sacred Heart Church, Sharon, and he was a 1926 graduate of Sharon High School.  He was employed for 10 years by the Erie Railroad while attending Youngstown College where he received his accounting degree.  In 1938, Mr. Phelan relocated to Meadville to found and open the Meadville office of Bell and Company, Certified Public Accountants, an established firm in Sharon.  He was named partner in 1947.

Until his retirement in 1978, Mr. Phelan was very active in local civic organizations.  He was a member of the board of directors of the former United Fund, Meadville Area Chamber of Commerce as treasurer, YMCA, and Meadville Area School Authority as president.  He was a member of the board of directors of the Crawford County Republican Party as treasurer, Northwest Bank and Trust Company and its advisory board, member of Taylor Hose Company, Meadville Kiwanis Club, Knights of Columbus, Meadville Country Club, former member of the Iroquois Club, and was elected member of the charter commission which studied and recommended changes to Meadville’s form of government.

He was a past president of the Northwest Chapter of the PA Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Mr. Phelan was a devoted member of St. Brigid Church where he served on the parish financial council and was a member of the Holy Name Society.

Survivors include two daughters, Mary Elizabeth Turner and her husband H. Woodruff of Pittsburgh and Patty Lang and her husband G. Thomas of Saegertown; a son, William J. Phelan, Jr. of Meadville; four grandsons, James W. Turner and his wife Monica and David W. Turner, all of Pittsburgh; Bruce E. Lang of Philadelphia; and Sean P. Lang and his wife Beth of Meadville; two great-grandchildren, Jackson Risbara and Mattingly Grace Lang; several nieces and nephews and their families; and a sister-in-law, Mary Helen Phelan of Scottsdale, AZ.  In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by four sisters, Mary Zimmer, Grace Scolari, Alice Connolly, and Teresa Weller and two brothers, Richard Phelan and John Carney.

Calling hours will be Saturday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, 581 Chestnut St., Meadville with a Scripture Prayer Service at 3:45 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Brigid Church, 383 Arch St., Meadville with Fr. David Findlay and Fr. Rocco Tito as Celebrants.

Entombment will be in St. Brigid Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to St. Brigid Church, 967 Chancery Ln., Meadville, PA 16335.