William Bachman

William Powell Bachman

11/1/1929 - 7/28/2020. Born White Cross Hospital, Munich, Germany son of Prof. G. Bryant and Nancy Powell Bachman.

Following a year in Europe, the family settled in Columbus, Ohio where his sister, Madge Bachman Harrison was born. Later, the family moved to Rochester, New York where his younger brother, John Bryant (Barbara Long) Bachman was born.

The family moved to West Lafayette Indiana, where Dr. Bachman taught Organic Chemistry at Purdue University until his retirement. Bill attended West Lafayette Public Schools then Purdue. He played French horn in the All American Purdue Marching Military Band where he also had responsibility of retrieving a 1937 Chevy pickup out of a garage and taking the "World's Largest Drum" to away football games. (He couldn't exceed 45 mph to keep the big drum from flying out the back.) In 1947 Bill enlisted in the U S Army Core of Engineers. He was proud that he drove all manner of vehicles - bulldozers, road graders, front loaders and even a General Motors train Locomotive.

He returned to Purdue where he met Ruth Martin from South Bend IN. They were married just before Bill left to serve in Korea. (He complained often that they could not get warm socks.)

Following 14 months of combat time, he returned to South Bend to meet his son, William Martin Bachman (deceased), set up home and to work at Bendix Brake. A second son, Bruce, was born there.

In 1955, Bill started a career in credit work with Socony Mobil Oil Corp. headquartered in Kansas City. The family settled in Lenexa, Kansas where daughter, Cindy, was born. Later, Bill was transferred to New Jersey in 1962 where Andy was born. Bill and Ruth were divorced in 1968.

He left Mobil to join a company involved with municipal bond financing. He moved to Philadelphia and met Lois Jaffee. They were married in 1969 and enjoyed 51 years of marriage. Bill became a step father to Suzanne (Skip) Appleton, Linda Wertman (Stan Sheckman) and Steve (Gilat) Jaffee.

Bill had a life-long interest in music, playing the piano (a great Boogie-Woogie) as well as the French horn. For the last year of his life, he started a music composition. Bill could, at a quick glance, identify the year, make and model of most any automobile on the road. He also was deeply involved in model railroading, creating a 300+ square foot layout in the basement of their home. He assembled and painted all of the mountains, buildings and cars. It was his every evening escape! On a monthly basis, he would create a dossier of freight movements all over the 400 switch landscape and a friend would work until late hours completing the various tasks. The buildings were emblazoned with names of children and grandchildren.

Survived by: wife, Lois J. (nee Teitelbaum), Suzanne(nee Henk) Bachman (widow of William M.), Bruce, Cindy (nee Bachman) Poole, Andrew. Step children Suzanne (Skip) Appleton, Linda Wertman (Stan Sheckman) and Steve (Gilat) Jaffee

Bill was very proud of his children and step children. He had 6 grandchildren and 3 step grand-children, and 12 great grandchildren and 2 step great grandchildren.

The service was facilitated by Goldstein Funeral Services at Roosevelt Memorial Park, Trevose PA 19053 . Rabbi Gregory Marx conducted the service.