John William Walchli, Sr.

Wellsville, NY - John William Walchli, Sr., 88, of Wellsville, NY and Phoenix, AZ passed away May 29, 2010 in Phoenix after a brief illness. Born June 26, 1921 to Otto and Marion Judge Walchli, he graduated from Wellsville High School in 1939.

After serving in World War II in the 8th Air Force, 486 bomb group as Intelligence Specialist in Sudbury Suffolk England from 1943 to 1945 creating bombing mission maps and folders, he graduated from Syracuse University in 1946.

After working for several years in the radio broadcasting industry, he returned to Wellsville, NY in 1948 to work for Richardson Petroleum Corp, from which he retired in 1986 as President.

Mr. Walchli was a member of the New York State Oil Producers Association for over fifty years and served as its President for two years. He also served on the Energy Resources, Research and Technology Committee for the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. In addition he has served on the Tight Sands Committee of the IPAA Society of Petroleum Engineers.

He also served as Chairman of the Eastern District Production Committee for the American Petroleum Institute including the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Illinois. In addition he served as Chairman of the Secondary Recovery Study Group for the Bradford, Pennsylvania District of the Pennsylvania Grade Crude Oil Association.

Mr. Walchli served as the President of the Wellsville Chamber of Commerce and was a member for a number of years. In addition, he served on the Town of Wellsville Planning Board for seven years and the Allegany County Planning Board for thirty years. Mr. Walchli was a life member of the American Legion Post 702 of Wellsville.

Mr. Walchli served as a director of the First Trust Union Bank Board for 16 years from 1968 to 1984. He was also a member of the CFA (Chartered Financial Analysts) Society of Rochester and the CFA Institute.

Mr. Walchli was a life long member of the First United Methodist Church in Wellsville where he served as the Chairman of the Usher Committee and Chairman of the Pastoral Relations Committee. Mr. Walchli was also active in the Boy Scouts and served as Scoutmaster for Troup 22 in Wellsville, N.Y.

Mr. Walchli was a 50 year member, a Past President and a Paul Harris Fellow of the Wellsville Rotary Club which he joined in March, 1955. He was also a perennial Rotarian with the Scottsdale Rotary Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Calling hours will be Friday June 4 from 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 pm at the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home in Wellsville. Funeral services will be Saturday at 11 am at the First United Methodist Church in Wellsville.

He is survived by his wife Anne, daughter Barbara (Larry Seay), sons John (Lisa Clark) and Jim and grandsons Kyle and John Richard. He was predeceased by his daughter Elizabeth (Betsy) and his brother Edward.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Wellsville Rotary Education Fund, attention John Walchli Memorial Rotary Scholarship, P.O. Box 391, Wellsville, NY 14895.