William H. Wurster passed away on June 18, 2007 at his residence in Haverford, PA. He was 84.
Son of the late Horace F. and Ruth Morris Wurster, he was born in Philadelphia in 1923. William H. Wurster was an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, and a navigator through a life-long course of professional and personal achievements. From 1942 to 1949, he served in the U.S. Merchant Marines, where his love for the sea began as he rose from a midshipmen to captain. Following World War II, he became co-owner of the Buccaneer Line, an independent shipping company in Florida formed after purchasing three retired ships from the U.S. Navy and converting them to merchant vessels.
After several years as Captain of the Buccaneer Line, he returned to the Philadelphia area and joined Woodward and Dickerson, a small merchant trading company located on the waterfront. During his 40 year career, Mr. Wurster rose from traffic manager to Chairman and CEO of the company. Under his leadership Woodward and Dickerson became recognized globally as a leader in international trade having established offices in Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, England, Australia, India and Jordan.
Woodward and Dickerson was sold to ConAgra Inc. After establishing ConAgra International and serving as Chairman and COO, Mr. Wurster "retired" to establish several other successful companies, including a land development company, a water desalination plant contracting business and a cocoa powder manufacturing plant.
Mr. Wurster most recently headed the Wurster Group overseeing private trusts and investing in start up companies. He also sat on the boards of several non-profit organizations. Mr. Wurster's fondness for the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania led to the establishment of the William H. Wurster Center for Multinational Management Studies. In addition and in keeping with his desire to give something back to the community, he established the Wurster Family Foundation with the purpose of making donations to worthy educational, medical and local community charities.
Although his professional accomplishments were impressive, he was most proud of his family – his late wife Jeanne Diesinger Wurster, his children Janine Wurster Putnam and William Glendon Wurster, and his grandchildren Lindsey, Andrew, Ian, and Caleb Putnam and Kathryn Wurster.
Relatives and friends are invited to his Memorial Service Thursday June 21, 1:00 PM at Ardmore Presbyterian Church, Montgomery Ave. & Mill Creek Rd., Ardmore, PA. Interment is private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, 100 E. Northwestern Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19118.