William H. Barndt, 91, prominent business and civic leader, and a long-time resident of West Rockhill Township, passed away on October 10, 2011, in Dock Terrace - Dock Woods Community, Towamencin Township. He was the husband of Marjorie (Duke) Barndt for 67 years. Born in Perkasie, he was the son of the late Elmer C. and Elizabeth (Roberts) Barndt. He was a 1936 graduate of Sell-Perk High School. Immediately after graduation, Bill began his banking career at The First National Bank of Philadelphia. In 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was deployed to the South Pacific Theater, where he was a military escort for the Bob Hope U.S.O. troop. After his return stateside, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve. In 1948, Bill became an executive officer of the newly-formed 32nd Quartermaster Group Pennsylvania Army National Guard headquarters in Sellersville. He also served during the Korean War , being deployed to Korea for one year. Following the war, Bill commanded the 2059th U.S. Army Reserve School, Bethlehem, from 1966 until 1972. After 31 years of service, Colonel Barndt retired from the military in 1973. Upon his return to civilian life, Bill continued his banking career. After the merger of First National Bank with the Pennsylvania Company in 1955, he was assigned to the main office operations as Assistant Treasurer. He later assumed responsibility for the bank's Metropolitan Department, consisting of 80 branches in seven counties. After 45 years of service, Bill retired in 1981 as Executive Vice-President of First Pennsylvania Bank. Bill studied at the Wharton Evening School of Accounts and Finance at the University of Pennsylvania, completed courses from the American Institute of Banking, and was a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. Bill was active in civic and community affairs, both locally and in Philadelphia. He was known best for his service to The Pennsylvania Society, where he served as Executive Director for 18 years, until retiring in 2000. For more than 25 years, he also was active with regional United Way Campaigns, served for six years as the Treasurer for the Freedom Valley Council of the Girl Scouts of America and served numerous other boards and committees, including the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce, Pennsylvania Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, and the Bucks County Industrial Development Corporation. In 1954, he helped to organize the Pennridge Junior Chamber of Commerce, Perkasie. Bill was also an honorary member of the Grand View Hospital Board of Directors, West Rockhill Township, with six years as Treasurer. Interested in local history, he was a member of the West Rockhill Historical Society in his later years. Bill was a member of St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Perkasie. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children, six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and one sister. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, November 5, 2011, in St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Dill Avenue and Chestnut Street, Perkasie, PA 18944.