Dr. William H. Whiteley, III (Bill) of Mullica Hill, NJ, passed away peacefully on July 1, 2018, hours shy of his 100th birthday. Bill was born on July 2, 1918 in Philadelphia to William H. Whiteley, Jr. and Agnes Curry Whiteley.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Perkins Whiteley. His former wife, Margaret Flach Whiteley, died on July 3, 1984. He leaves one son, William H. Whiteley, IV, and three daughters, Margaret Driscoll, Nancy Campbell, and Susan O’Connor; three grandchildren, Seamus Campbell, Ryan and Lauren Driscoll; and three great grandchildren.
Bill graduated from West Philadelphia High School (1935), Lafayette College (1939), and Jefferson Medical College (1943). An honor graduate, he became the first neurosurgical resident at Jefferson under Dr. Rudolph Jaeger in 1944. After service in the US Army Corps, as a neurosurgeon, during WW II, he returned to Jefferson and took postgraduate work in neurosurgery and rose in academic rank to Clinical Professor. For a time, he was a personal assistant to Dr. Jaeger and aided in the preparation of color motion pictures of neurosurgical operations that were shown at national meetings. He contributed to the neurosurgical literature, produced many scientific exhibits, and was active in the societies of his specialty.In the Christian Medical Society, he served as national President in 1948 and 1961.
He spent his entire career practicing medicine at Thomas Jefferson Hospital and also served on the staff at Will’s Eye and Methodist Hospitals in Philadelphia, as well as the Veteran’s Hospital in Coatesville.
Bill will be remembered for his love of family, serving as an organist at Holy Name Church in Mullica Hill, and his keen interest in many areas such as photography, bird watching, traveling, and his koi pond. A devout Christian, he was a long-time member of the 10th Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, serving as an elder, and teaching Bible studies. But mostly, he will be remembered for his kind, gentle, and caring nature.
Relatives and friends are invited to Bill’s Visitation Thursday, July 12, from 10:00 a.m. at The Catholic Community of the Holy Spirit, 17 Earlington Ave., Mullica Hill, NJ, 08062, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Interment private at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to Holy Redeemer Home Care, 150 E. 9th Ave., Runnemede, NJ 08078 would be deeply appreciated.
