M. Waldron Vail

M. Waldron “Wally” Vail, 93, died at Hospice of Lancaster County Mt Joy on April 3, 2011 surrounded by his wife and children. Born in Ossining, NY on August 14, 1917, he was the son of the late J. Morrison and Adelina M. Vail. He has two sisters, Eloise Pierce of Briarcliff Manor, NY and Margretha Webber of Wayne, NJ. Wally’s childhood along the Hudson River was filled with adventure and nature. As a boy he would often visit the historic Vail 1700s farmhouse on Vail Lane in Westchester County, NY. Later, as a young man, at the neighboring 1750s Chadeayne homestead, he met the future love of his life, and wife of 67 years, Carolyn Cromwell. They married in Christ Episcopal Church, Bronxville, NY on November 20, 1943. He was a 1936 graduate of Ossining High School and the Roxbury School, Cheshire, CT in 1937. Wally enrolled in Franklin & Marshall College, but his schooling was interrupted by his service as a sergeant in the U.S. Medical Corps. After the war Wally received his Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Franklin & Marshall College in 1947, where he was Captain of the Fencing Team, a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and attended St James Episcopal Church. After graduation from F&M, Wally relocated his family to Ohio. Wally and Carol had a love-filled life together in southern Ohio raising two children: Linda Truesdell Vail of Manhattan and M. Waldron “Ron” Vail II and wife Ann E.D. Vail of Lititz. Linda and Ron dearly loved their father, who gave them his passion for sailing, gardening, arts, antiques and nature. Wally coached his children’s teams and cheered them on at their sporting and scouting events. Wally was the coach of the Mariemont Bellringers baseball team, a merit badge examiner for troop 49 Mariemont, the Flying Scott Fleet Commodore for Cowan Lake Sailing Association, Ohio and a Mason of the Radium Lodge (#844), White Plains, NY. Wally retired as Sales Manager from the Witt Co. in 1982, where he served as a life member of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers. In retirement Wally and Carol returned to Lancaster. He and Carol were active members of St. James Episcopal Church where he served as an usher, Convention delegate and representative to Prescott House and Lancaster County Council of Churches. He was also Judge of Elections for the City of Lancaster and worked for Demuth Tobacco Shop in downtown Lancaster, the oldest tobacco shop in the U.S. and developed fond relationships with customers all over the world. Our father was a man of deep faith, who knew how to live life to the fullest while holding fast to his belief in Christ. He never met a stranger, he thought of everyone as a friend, and always looked for the best in people. He was loved by many. Our family wants to extend deep thanks to Hospice of Lancaster, Dr. William Bakken and the Staff of Abbeyville Family Medicine, Lancaster, the nursing Staff at Lancaster General Hospital and the entire staff at Country Meadows of Lancaster for the wonderful care they provided for our Father. Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend Mr. Vail’s Celebration of Life Service at St. James Episcopal Church, 119 N. Duke Street, Lancaster on Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. with the Rev. David Peck officiating. The family will greet friends in the chapel from 2:00 p.m. until the time of Service. Interment will take place Saturday, April 9, 2011 at the Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla, NY. If desired, Memorials may be made in M. Waldron Vail’s memory to The Boy Scouts of America, 630 Janet Avenue, Suite B114, Lancaster, PA 17601.

M. Waldron Vail

April 4, 2011