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William Braceland, printing firm exec

William D. Braceland, 91, of Havertown, a printing company executive, died Monday, June 24, at Riddle Village in Media of complications from a stroke.

William D. Braceland, 91, of Havertown, a printing company executive, died Monday, June 24, at Riddle Village in Media of complications from a stroke.

"He died as he lived - peacefully," said daughter Joan Hawsey.

From 1946 until his retirement in 1973, he was co-owner of Braceland Bros. Printing Inc., a large Philadelphia-based company that handled government contracts as well as commercial work. The firm, founded in 1899, had plants here, and in Steubenville, Ohio, and Franconia, Va.

A third generation of Braceland family members ran the business before selling it 15 years ago.

Born in West Philadelphia, Mr. Braceland graduated from West Catholic High School for Boys in 1939 and served in the Army Air Forces from August 1942 to May 1946. He was honorably discharged with the rank of captain.

While in the military, he was part of a mapping survey team that worked in Brazil and West Africa. He loved the work and the travel, his daughter said.

Mr. Braceland worked from 1979 to 1986 in the Oncology Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia as a paid special projects coordinator. One of his tasks was managing volunteers. For years, he also raised money for the hospital's cancer research by volunteering for the Dressage at Devon horse show.

He enjoyed photography, Macintosh computers, liberal politics, and watching CNN.

His daughter described Mr. Braceland as kind, calm, and gentle, as well as logical. "He was personable, but not in a big way," she said.

He was married to the former Jeanne Quinn. The two were introduced by mutual friends. She died in 2007.

Surviving, besides his daughter, are a son, W. Donald; another daughter, Carol M.; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A son died earlier.

A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 29, at Riddle Village, 1048 W. Baltimore Pike, Media. Mr. Braceland donated his body to science through the Humanity Gifts Registry.

Donations to cancer research at Children's Hospital made be made via www.chop.edu/service/oncology/childhood-cancer-awareness/.