Dr. William Lee Wesner, DDS

Dr. William Lee Wesner, DDS, 94, of Jefferson Township, passed away in the late afternoon of December 22, 2022 at his home. William was the husband of Flora (née Wallace Livingood) Wesner.

Born Monday, March 26, 1928, in West Reading, Pa., the only child of Carl B. and Elsie (née McGill) Wesner.

Bill received his first instrument, a trombone, at 7 years old. He played that instrument in school groups & orchestras until his late 80s. Bill played first trombone in several bands & orchestras. Playing the horn, composing & arranging music became an important part of his life in later years.  

 Bill attended West Reading High School. He often saved his lunch money and stole away to a local pool hall where the proprietor taught him to shoot straight billiards. During his high school years, he played basketball, baseball, football and was on the swim team. Bill received 16 varsity letters. Bill was a member of PA state champion swimming team for several years. He remained fond of billiards and table tennis and played both with his sons most evenings after dinner.

Bill attended Albright College on a football scholarship.  After graduating, he attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry. Bill received his doctorate degree and began working for a local dentist. Bill started his own practice in West Reading. The practice grew and developed into a restorative dental practice. Bill also furthered his education with graduate courses in facial pain treatment, progressive orthodontics, and dental restoration. Bill treated patients in West Reading for the next 35 years.

Bill served as Lieutenant in the Navy and provided necessary dentistry for servicemen, including Admiral Richard Byrd. Bill was stationed on an aircraft carrier docked in Boston Harbor.

In 1953 he married Marilyn (née Metzger). Together they raised two sons, Mark and Carl, on a small farm in the Oley Valley, Pa. On the farm the family gardened, hunted, fished and found adventure in every stream, pond, field and woods that surrounded them. Bill loved the outdoors and crafted many things, making long bows, arrows, quivers & flyrods. Bill became accomplished as an artist, making woodcuts and watercolor paintings as well. He began downhill skiing when he was 40 and became a National Ski patroller several years later. Bill had his last ski adventure out in the Rockies at the age of 85.

November 1985 Bill married Flora (née Livingood). Bill and Flora had originally met while in Junior High School. After retiring from his dental practice, they moved from Reading to Bernville, Pa. Bill & Flora loved working together in horticulture, especially the raising of woody, flowering plants, later covering the banks that surrounded their house with azaleas and rhododendron and viburnums many of which he raised from seeds and cuttings. He also installed two vineyards to provide grapes for making wine and pursued that for twenty-five years. Bill also
found time to volunteer with several organizations including the local Zoning Board and library.

Bill’s greatest love was his wife Flora and their combined families. William is survived by his wife Flora, his son Mark L. (Patricia) Wesner and his stepchildren: Elizabeth (Johann) Pfatschbacker, Anne Buckwalter and Mark (Deborah) Livingood; 9 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son Carl B. Wesner.

Services will be private at the convenience of the family. The Mull Funeral Home in Womelsdorf is assisting the family.

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