William Charles Chandler, 100, of Red Bank, NJ, formerly of Fair Haven, NJ, London, England, and Annapolis, Md., passed away peacefully at home on January 9, 2017.

Born in Detroit to Charles W. and Mary (Connor) Chandler, he then lived in Brooklyn, NY and graduated from Brooklyn Prep in 1935 where he was captain of the School’s track team. He graduated from Cornell University in 1939 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and was elected into the Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society. He served overseas from 1941 to 1946 in the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps during World War II, of which he was a decorated veteran, and continued his service in the U.S. Army Reserve as Commander of the 39th Ordnance Group, until he retired as a Colonel in 1976. After completing active duty in 1946 he joined Gulf Oil Trading Company until he retired in 1980 as Manager of Gulf’s Eastern Hemisphere, Marine Products Department, in London, England. He was a parishioner at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Red Bank. A boating enthusiast he built a wooden day cruiser in 1959 that is still seaworthy today. His other passions included carpentry and working in his metal shop where he constructed numerous model steam engines.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 71 years, Jeanne Natalie Chandler; his sister, Margaret Payne; his five children, Patricia Kavanagh, Bill and his wife Nancy, Jean Marie and her husband Antonio Cardenas, Kathy and her husband Sam Gengaro, and Bob and his wife Catherine; Seventeen Grandchildren and Twenty-one Great Grandchildren. Although his memory had weakened in recent years he continued to surprise us with brilliant insights and humorous remarks, expressions of his deep love and concern for his family and friends, and unwavering faith.

Visitation will be Thursday, January 19th 5:00-8:00 pm at the Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 South Holmdel Road, Holmdel. Mass of Christian Burial, Friday, January 20th at 10:00 am at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 121 Bridge Avenue, Red Bank. Burial St. Gabriel Cemetery, Marlboro. To share a favorite memory or messages of condolence, please visit Mr. Chandler’s Book of Memories at www.holmdelfuneralhome.com.