William T. McCord

William T. McCord, of West Willow Road in Willow Street, entered into rest on Thursday, September 14, 2006 at Landis Homes after a lengthy illness.

Born August 22, 1928 in Mount Joy, PA, Bill was the son of the late Newton I. McCord and the late Alta H. (Leaman) Knight. He was married 58 years on May 15^th to Theresa R. Fulginiti McCord.

Bill attended West Lampeter High School. He then served in the United States Marines at Parris Island, and received an Honorable Medical Discharge. After his discharge from the Marines, he worked as a Route Delivery person for  Queen Dairy and part-time for Todd’s Esso Service Station. Bill then went on to serve as a Police Officer and Sargent in West Lampeter Township for 33 years; part-time from 1959 to 1967 and full-time from 1967 to 1992. He won the GOP nomination for constable in West Lampeter Township, and was elected in 1973. He continued to serve as constable until 1999. From 1972 until 1999, Bill was the appointed Truant Officer for Lampeter-Strasburg School District. He served on the Board of Lancaster County Bureau of Children’s Services from 1970 to 1976.

Bill received a letter of commendation from the Township for his police work in 1978. He was presented with the Community Service Award in 1989 and the Award of Appreciation (for faithful service) in 1999 from Lampeter-Strasburg School District.

A member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lancaster, Bill was also a former member of the Fraternal Order of Police Red Rose Lodge #16, American Legion Post 34, PA State Constables Association, Willow Street Lions Club, Willow Street Fire Company, and was an Associate Member of Meadia Heights Country Club. He enjoyed Boating, fishing & crabbing at Bush River, MD with his wife and family.

Bill will always be remembered by former students of Lampeter-Strasburg standing in uniform at almost all of the District’s basketball and football games. As written in a 1989 Lampeter-Strasburg newsletter when he presented with the Community Service Award: “In his capacity as a policeman, his efforts on our behalf are unexcelled…a true champion of justice.  He’s never too busy or too involved to listen to our problems, offer needed advice and, enforce the law with dignity and honor, always respectful of the parties involved”. “Bill is simply a solid community citizen who has been a model for others to emulate”. 

He will also be missed by many Township residents who would, since Bill’s retirement, round the corner of West Willow Road and Pleasant View and beep their horns and wave to him as he sat in his sunroom on his favorite chair.

In addition to his wife, Bill is survived by six children: Elizabeth J., wife of Dennis M. Grimm of Lancaster; Rose Mary, wife of Ian A. Nightingale of Lancaster; Mary Ann, wife of James R. Brown of Phoenix, Arizona; Theresa “Tina”, wife of David H. Byler of Lampeter; William T. McCord, Jr., husband of Carla (Rhoads) of Willow Street; and Joseph N. McCord, husband of Ruth Ann (Bitts) of Lancaster; thirteen grandchildren: Mark Grimm (husband of Barbara Schlegelmilch) and Melissa Grimm; Danielle & James Brown; Anne Marie, Patrick (husband of Kimberly Ferrick),  Lt. Philip & Valerie Nightingale; Joel Byler (husband of Leslie Goodhart) & Krista Byler Coble (widow of Travis) ; Jaime & Derek McCord; Nicole McCord; six great grandchildren: Georgia Grimm; Cecelia Nightingale; Dylan, Camryn & Gracyn Byler; and Jadyn Coble; and a brother, Lin H. McCord of Millersville. He was preceded in death by a sister, Alta Jean Mentzer and a brother, Leaman K. McCord.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 119 S. Prince St., Lancaster, PA 17603, on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. A viewing will be held on Tuesday at Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home and Chapel, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA from 6:00-8:00 p.m. A second viewing will be held at St. Mary’s Church on Wednesday from 9:00-10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to St. Mary’s Catholic Church or to Hospice of Lancaster, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604.