Elkins Wetherill, 91, died peacefully of natural causes at his summer house in Waldoboro on Aug. 11.
Born on Oct. 3, 1919 in Philadelphia, Penn., he attended Episcopal Academy, St. George’s School, The University of Pennsylvania and The University of Pennsylvania Law School. College was interrupted as the First Troop Philadelphia Cavalry was called to active duty in February of 1941. His army service included the Cavalry, Signal Corps and OSS in the U.S. and Europe.
He practiced law in Norristown, Penn., founding the firm of Henderson, Wetherill, O’Hey and Horsey. He was very active in Montgomery County politics serving as solicitor to the Lt. Governor, Montgomery County Treasurer, Chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners and Chairman of the Pennsylvania Securities Commission.
He was President of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange from 1965 until his retirement in 1981. He served on a number of Boards including First Pennsylvania Bank, Germantown Savings Bank, Davis and Elkins College, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and The Committee of 70. He also served as Chairman and Director of WHYY Channel 12.
He was very active in land preservation. He created the Harriet Wetherill Park in Plymouth Township and was Chairman of the Montgomery County Open Space Board from 1993 until early 2011. He was the author of “Field Guide to Common Grasses of Southeastern Pennsylvania.”
He had a life-long love of equine sports ranging from fox hunting to 3-Day Eventing. He was an active competitive rider and owner of many successful horses that competed in the U.S. and Europe.
His first wife, Harriet Alexander Wetherill, predeceased him in 1994.
He is survived by his second wife Ethel B. Wetherill; children, Elkins Jr. and wife Ellen, Alexandra W. Gerry, and Stephen H. Wetherill and wife Susan; stepchildren, Edwin B. Nalle and wife Karen, Horace D. Nalle and wife Patricia, Ellen N. Hass and husband Jay, Alexander B. Nalle and wife Alison and Lucy N. Weed and husband Timothy; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and 14 step-grandchildren.
Burial will be private. A memorial service will follow at a later date.
Should friends desire, memorial donations in Mr. Wetherill’s memory may be made to the Montgomery County Lands Trust, PO Box 300, Lederack, PA 19450.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
