Wilbur "Bill" J. Kline, 90, of Walnutport, died May 28, 2014, at home. He was the husband of the late Elizabeth "Betty" B. (Stever) Kline for 70 years.

Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late Harvey J. and Josephine K. (Weiser) Kline.

He was a radio operator in the Army Air Corps during World War II with the 94th Troop Carrier Squadron; he was involved in every airborne invasion. He was a prisoner of war and narrowly escaped being executed by a firing squad. His story was recorded as part of the Veteran History Project on file at the U.S. Library of Congress.

He was a navigator on the Lehigh River for the former Lehigh Coal and Canal of Jim Thorpe. He was general manager for 25 years along with his wife at Northampton Coin and Jewelry until 2007 when he was 83. Prior to that, he was a supervisor for 10 years for Champion Spark Plugs, Bethlehem; and worked at Bonney Forge, Allentown, and H & R Industries, Nazareth.

He was a member of Emmanel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bath.

He was a former member and Past President of the Northampton High School Big-N-Band Booster Club for 20 years. He was a charter and life member of both the Walnutport V.F.W. Post 7215 and of the National World War II Memorial, Washington, D.C.

He is survived by two daughters, Linda A. and her husband John McKenzie of Walnutport and Sandy L., wife of the late David Howell of Northampton; a brother, Henry C. and his wife Betty Kline of Walnutport; five grandchildren, John, Jim, Meagan, Seth and Sarah; and seven great–grandchildren.

Contributions may be made to the church memorial fund, c/o the funeral home, 2119 Washington Ave., Northampton, 18067.

Arrangements were mae by Schisler Funeral Home Inc.