William James Douglass, Jr.

William James Douglass, Jr., 91, of Meadville, passed away Thursday, February 22, 2024 at Wesbury United Methodist Community.

He was born May 12, 1932 in Youngstown, OH, a son of William James and Emily Best Douglass, Sr. He married Ellen Peterson June 30, 1954.

Bill was a 1950 graduate of South High School, Youngstown and a 1954 graduate of Ohio University with a B.A. in architecture. He was a registered architect in both Pennsylvania and Ohio and was accredited by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. He was a member of Who’s Who. He was a Veteran of the Korean War, serving in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956.

Bill retired from the architectural firm of HHSDR on December 31, 1994. He joined the firm in 1963 and was executive vice president since 1970. He is a member emeritus of the American Institute of Architects and the Pennsylvania Society of Architects and a former member of the American Arbitration Association. Bill served for 19 years as the president of Meadville Area Industrial Commission, was vice chairman of Crawford County Industrial Development Authority, and a board member of Crawford County Coalition on Housing Needs, Inc. He was also a past member of Meadville Redevelopment Authority (1966-1970), past president of Meadville Citizens Advisory Council, past president of Meadville Lions Club (1971-1972), past president of Meadville Area Chamber of Commerce (1974-1975), past member of Hillside Home Men’s Advisory Board, past president of Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County, and past president of Meadville Country Club (1980-1981) where he was a member since 1965. He was the recipient of the Dr. Winslow award in 1997.

Bill was a past board member of First National Bank of Meadville and First National Bank of PA, Marine Bank, and PNC Bank advisory board in Erie. He was also a past member of Meadville Literary Union and Meadville Planning and Zoning Commission, and has been on the board at Marriott’s Cypress Harbour in Orlando, FL since 1996.

Bill was a member of First Presbyterian Church where he served as a former deacon, elder, and trustee. He and Ellen enjoyed traveled to over 35 countries, traveling on the Concorde, The Queen Mary, Greek Isles, Safari in Africa, and many more. He loved telling stories of his travels to his grandchildren.

Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife Ellen of almost 70 years; four children, William Scott Douglass of Meadville, Julie Wagenhouser Frye (John) of Howard, OH, Tracy Erdeljac (Phillip) of Meadville, and Perry Howard Douglass (Susan) of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; grandchildren, Kenneth Wagenhouser, Anna Wagenhouser Ziegler, Maggie Frye, and Mark Erdeljac (Blair), Jason Erdeljac (Tori), and Emily Deely (Sam); and great-grandchildren, Camden and Raegan Ziegler and Nico and Vance Erdeljac.

He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant sister, Beatrice May Douglass.

Family and friends will be received be received on Thursday, February 29 from 10-11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 890 Liberty St., Meadville where a memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. Dr. Daniel Corll, Interim Pastor, officiating. Military honors will be provided by VFW Post 2006.

Many thanks to his wonderful nurses and aids at Meadville Medical Center and Wesbury and many thanks to the V.A. and Hospice.

Memorials may be made in Bill’s memory to First Presbyterian Church, 890 Liberty St., Wesbury, 31 N. Park Ave., Hospice of Crawford County, 766 Liberty St., all of Meadville, PA 16335 or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

The arrangements have been entrusted to the ROBERT W. WAID FUNERAL HOME, 581 CHESTNUT ST., MEADVILLE where memories and condolences may be shared at www.waidfuneralhome.net