William G. Gunderman
William G. Gunderman, age 87, of Palmyra, passed away on Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Born in Harrisburg on April 2, 1928, Bill graduated from the Hershey Industrial School (now Milton Hershey School) in 1945, and from Dickinson College in 1949. While a Dickinson student, Bill taught physics to students returning from World War II who wanted to complete their degrees at the Harrisburg Area College. On June 18, 1960, he was united in marriage with the former Lois Fisher, of Harrisburg.
During the Korean War, Bill was sent to Huntsville Alabama to work with Werner Van Braun at the Redstone arsenal where they developed the first rocket sent into space. In 1958, he served as the youngest Commander of the American Legion Post 1001. Returning to the Pennsylvania Highway Department when the war ended, Bill was instrumental in designing the addition to the Materials Lab in 1962. He later moved to Washington DC and worked 30 years for the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. During his tenure there, he travelled through the United States visiting research labs and academic departments.
Bill is survived by his wife of 55 years, Lois (Fisher) Gunderman, daughters Betsy Fowler and Jenny Gunderman, sons-in-law Scott Fowler and John Eltzroth, and grandchildren Julia and George Eltzroth. He was preceded in death by five sisters and a brother, as well as his parents, Herbert and Sue (Shreffler) Gunderman.
The Gunderman Family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of the Penn State M.S. Hershey Medical Center’s Surgical Intensive Care Unit Station 3 for their assistance and support through the final days.
A Funeral Service to Honor the Life of William Gunderman will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday August 25, 2015 at the Hetrick-Bitner Funeral Home, 3125 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, with Rev. Mike Wagner, officiating. The family will receive guests one hour prior to the service, from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M., on Tuesday. Interment, with Military Honors, will be in Hershey Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Milton Hershey School Alumni Association, 109 McCorkel Road, Hershey, PA 17033, where a fund will be established.
Those wishing to share memories or offer condolences are welcome to visit or Facebook. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hetrick-Bitner Funeral Home, Harrisburg.
Published on and in The Patriot-News on Aug. 23, 2015