Notes for: William Warden Bodine, Sr.

From the paper "Historical and Biographical Sketch of the Bowden, Bodine and Beaudoin Family": William was a prominent businessman. He was a student of the Episcopal Academy of Philadelphia and at St. Paul's School of concord, New Hampshire. He graduated Harvard University in 1909 and the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1914. William was a vice-president with the United Gas Improvement Company (some time after 1919) and later the chairman of Pennsylvania Mutual Life Insurance Company. He served in the cavalry on the Mexican border in 1916 and in France and Germany in WWI. He was wounded in frontline action there. He was Episcopal and Republican. See volume 51, pp. 28-29 for a good article on his life. a portrait, and copy of his signature.

He was listed as "Col. William W. Bodine" at the time of his father's death on August 19, 1932 (New Jersey Historical Society Proceedings, Vols. 51 and 52, 1933-34).

From: http://www.forever-care.com/:

William W. Bodine, Sr. was chariman of the board of the U.G.I and the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. He also held major interests in banking, insurance, utilities and concrete, served as president of a number of civic and charitable organizations, and gave time and money to the Republican Party.

Mr. Bodine joined the First City Troop in 1912 and served on the Mexican Border in 1916 and 1917. Later he was an officer in the 42nd (Rainbow) Division Artillery and served overseas in the First World War.

From Ronny Bodine:

Graduated A.B., Harvard University, 1909 and LL.B., University of Pennsylvania, 1914; admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar, 1914; commissioned 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Field Artillery, 1917, and served in action in France and with the Army of Occupation in Germany until his discharge in 1919 with the rank of Captain; joined the National Guard in 1920 and served until 1937 attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel; joined the United Gas Improvement Company, 1919, he advanced through the ranks ultimately serving as its president, 1940-1943; chairman of the board, Pennsylvania Mutual Life Insurance Company, Philadelphia, 1949-1957. Angela (Forney) Bodine was the daughter of James and Jane de C. (Richardson) Forney. William and Angela Bodine were buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. See "Cyclopedia of American Biography," LI, 1969, p. 28-29; John W. Jordan, "Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania," IV, 1932, p. 286-287. See the obituary of Angela Bodine in the Philadelphia "Inquirer" of 26 May 1983.

*****End of info from Ronny Bodine*****

From: John Willis
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Subject: Re: Save Oakwell - William Warrren Bodine, Jr.

Thanks. I appreciate your rapid response. Oakwell is an amazing sanctuary; it would sadden all of us to lose it. We are actually suggesting that it be saved and used as a teaching arboretum. I would like it to be named the William Bodine Teaching Arboretum, since WB was such a great civic leader.

From: John Willis [mailto: saveoakwell at gmail.com>]
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Subject: Save Oakwell - William Warrren Bodine, Jr.

HI: I am a preservationist in Ardmore, Pennsylvania who is working with a growing group - Save Oakwell - which is trying to save the William Bodine estate in Villanova from development. We would like the Bodine House and the beautiful gadens to be preserved. We are trying to reach out to any direct descendants of William Bodine who may have lived on, played at or visited Oakwell. We would also like to see if there are any photographs or ephemera of Oakwell and Mr. Bodine that might help "personalize" the property when we speak before township hearings. Could you provide us with any assistance or ideas? Thank, you John