William H. Rutter, 89, formerly of Schnecksville and Succasunna, N.J., died March 25, 2015, in Rockhill Mennonite Community, Sellersville.

He and his wife Gladys R. (Dietrich) Rutter were married 64 years April 1, 2014.

Born Feb. 1, 1926, in Red Hill, he was the son of the late Ralph S. and Lillian B. (Butterweck) Merkel.

He faithfully and honorably served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II as an aircraft instrument specialist.

A self-employed manufacturer's representative serving the chemical, pharmaceutical, steel and electronic industries, he previously was a product development chemist and a market research analyst for Electrochemical Engineering and Manufacturing Co., Emmaus, and the INTERPACE Company, Parsippany, NJ.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Perkasie, and a former member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Succasunna, where he served on church council, taught Sunday School, and was an affiliate church member of Union Evangelical Lutheran Church, Schnecksville.

He served the Boy Scouts of America for 45 years as a Scout and Scout Leader, earning his Wood Badge in 1977.

He also received the Bronze Pelican Award from the Catholic Church for service to Scouting.

He was a former secretary and member of the Upper Lehigh Lions Club, Schnecksville.

He served as a volunteer at the Northern Lehigh Food Bank, Lehigh Valley Hospital, and the Hawk Mountain Bird Sanctuary as the Keeper of the Gate.

In addition to his loving wife, he is survived by sons William C. Rutter and his wife, Phyllis, of Spencerport, N.Y., and Thomas J. Rutter and his wife, Amy, of Perkasie; brother Richard R. Merkel and his wife, Marie, of Lansdale; grandchildren Andrew W. Rutter, Jocelyn E. Danieluk, Michael R. Rutter, J. Tyler Rutter; and great-grandchildren Colton T. and Madison M. Danieluk, Thomas H. and James K. Rutter.

Expressions of sympathy may be recorded at heintzelmancares.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to Rockhill Mennonite Community, c/o the funeral home, P.O. Box 196, Schnecksville, PA 18078-0196.

Arrangements made by Heintzelman Funeral Home Inc., Schnecksville.