David J. Batdorf, Esq.

David J. Batdorf, Esq., 86, of Wyomissing, passed away December 15, 2013 in The Reading Hospital and Medical Center.

He was the husband of Carol J. (Spangenburg) Batdorf. They were married almost 61 years ago on December 29, 1952.

Born in West Reading, he was the son of the late Jonathan P. Batdorf, Esq. and Elsie (Lechner) Batdorf.

David was a 1945 graduate of West Reading High School where he was the Editor of the school newspaper for three years. He also was active in sports and won varsity letters in football, basketball, track, and tennis. He was co-captain of the basketball team and captain of the track and tennis teams. He won county honors from Reading Eagle Chet Hagen; First Team and All County Football and Basketball in 1944. He then attended and graduated from Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, in 1951 with a BA Degree in Political Science. At Wesleyan, he was the College Body Senator, the Sigma Chi Vice President, the Balfour Award winner for New England and Canada, Senior Editor of the "Argus" newspaper, and was the Chairman of Campus Chest Charity Drive. In 1954 he graduated from the University of Tennessee, Law School, Knoxville TN, with a Doctor of Law Degree. He was the President of the Student Bar Association there from 1953 to 1954.

He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in Germany as a T-Sergeant.

David was a practicing attorney for 50 years with offices in Shillington and Bernville. He was the Deputy Attorney General from 1973 to 1976 serving as the Chief Counsel of the Revenue Department. He was a member of the Berks County Bar, Pennsylvania Bar, and the American Bar Association. In 1960 he was admitted to the United States Supreme Court.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reading, where he served as a member of Church Council from 1967 to 1969 and for 15 years taught Young Peoples Sunday School. He was an Executive Board member of Lutheran Northeast Pennsylvania Synod for two terms from 1968 to 1973. He was also the Chairman of LIFO Fund Raising Drive for Lutheran Charities, Northeastern, PA. He was a member of the National Disciplinary Committee from 1972 to 1982 and a member of the Nominating Committee, Delegate to Dallas, TX Convention in 1972 for the Lutheran Church of America.

David was very active in the political environment of Berks County. He organized the Berks County Young Democrats in 1956 and was the President in 1956, 1957, and 1959. He was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention in Los Angeles, CA in 1960. In 1966, 1970 and 1974 he was the Co-Chairman of Milton J. Shapp gubernatorial campaigns, Berks County Primary and General Elections; Shapp having won 1970 to 1974. He was the Berks County Democratic County Chairman from 1974 to 1976. From 1977 to 1979 he was appointed to the 3-man Tax Equalization Board by Govt. Milton J. Shapp. He was involved in many election campaigns for several judges. He was the treasurer for Citizens to Elect Saylor Judge, May and November 1979; the Co-Chairman of Committee to re-elect Judges Edenharter and Eshelman, November, 1979; the Co-Chairman of Citizens for the Election of Albert A. Stallone for Judge; and in 1989 was the Co-Chairman of Citizens to Elect Linda Ludgate Judge. All of the elected he worked with won. He also was appointed on March 24, 1987 by President Judge Forrest G. Schaeffer, Jr., to serve as interim County Commissioner until January 1, 1988.

He was very active outside of the law community as well. In October, 1962 he was selected "One of Three Outstanding Young Men in Pennsylvania" by PA Junior Chamber of Commerce, reform efforts, City of Reading. He was active in scouting and was a member of the Executive Board for 7 years for Daniel Boone Boy Scouts of America, now Hawk Mountain Council and was a recipient of the Silver Beaver and Shikellamy Boy Scouts Awards and Lutheran National Lamb Awards. He was appointed to the Berks County Planning Commission from 1977 to 1986, was the Vice Chaiman in 1979 and the Chairman in 1980. He was also the Chairman and Sub Committee Chairman of Budget and Personnel from 1978 to 1979. 1980. He was also appointed to Berks County Industrial Development Authority from 1979 to 1987 and was the Chairman from 1980 to 1987. He was appointed Kutztown University Board of Trustees by Governor Casey 1988 to 1993.

In the business community he was President of RoseDorf Realty, Co., from 1963 to 1977 and was a member of the Board of Directors of Grafika Commercial Arts, Inc., now Division of V.F. Corporation from 1963 to 1977.

Since officially retiring in 2003 he worked with Alvernia College raising funds. He has also since won several awards: the Meritorious Service Medal from the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution; the Wesleyan University Service Award; the Community Service Award from Alvernia Seniors College; and was also recognized as a member of the Door Opener Society by the Berks County Community Foundation. He also sponsored the Batdorf Room at the Berks County Bar Association.

In addition to his wife he is survived by his three children: David J. Batdorf, Wyomissing; Jonathan B. Batdorf, Esq., fiancé of Nancy A. Maue, Mohnton; and Rebecca Batdorf Stone, Esq., wife of Maurice D. Stone, Esq., Cumru Township. Also surviving are his sisters: Maryann Frick, Riverhead, NY; Barbara, wife of William Sutton, Edgewater, MD; and Christine, wife of Robert Berger, Panama City Beach, Fl. Three grandchildren: Olivia A. Batdorf, Philadelphia; Daniel E., husband of Samantha Batdorf, Drexel Hill; and Lindsay N. Batdorf, Wyomissing; as well as two great-grandchildren: Anthony and Julianna also survive him.

Services will be Saturday at 10 a.m. in Trinity Lutheran Church, 527 Washington St, Reading. A visitation will be held Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. in Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., 739 Penn Ave., West Reading. Burial will be in Charles Evans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The United Way of Berks County, 501 Washington St., Reading, PA 19601. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com.