Henry R. Bilhuber, 87, oil executive

Henry Rudolph Bilhuber, 87, of Media, an oil-company executive and a skilled sailor, died Tuesday, June 23, of kidney failure at his home.

Mr. Bilhuber spent a long career with Mobil Oil Co., starting as a coordinator for service stations. He quickly excelled and became the engineering manager for the firm's eastern region.

He was then appointed to a five-year assignment in Norway as a contracts manager for the construction of three huge oil-drilling platforms in the North Sea that were jointly owned by Norway and the United States. He supervised 75 engineers.

In the mid-1980s, after returning home, he retired.

"Hank," as he was called by those close to him, was the son of Paul Henry Bilhuber and Elsa Louise Rudolph. He grew up with two brothers in Douglaston, on Long Island's North Shore.

He graduated from the Choate School in 1946, and from Lafayette College in 1951 with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering. While in college, he was president of his Delta Upsilon fraternity chapter and later remained active in alumni activities.

Mr. Bilhuber enlisted in the Navy in 1951. In 1955, he was honorably discharged with the rank of lieutenant junior grade.

In 1954, while in Trinidad, he met and married Gloria Hart. The two lived in Long Island and Michigan before settling in Rosemont, where they stayed for 38 years and raised sons Karl, Jon, Jeffrey, and Eric.

A superb seaman whose love of boating was stoked by his own father and shared with his brothers, Mr. Bilhuber could navigate in all kinds of weather.

He and his family owned and maintained two sailing vessels - a schooner called Shan-gri-la, and, later, the S&S yawl Palawan. The family embarked on many cruises along the Atlantic Coast and in the Caribbean.

Mr. Bilhuber traveled to New York and Newport, R.I., to watch the Tall Ships parade or the America's Cup races when they were in town, and he raced his Palawan in the annual Classic Yacht Regatta for several years.

As president and board member of the Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild, he also volunteered to help preserve the historic brigantine sailing ship Gazela. He sailed on the Gazela to Nova Scotia and into the Caribbean.

Mr. Bilhuber was always up for adventure, traveling through Europe with his wife and close family members. He made detailed sketches of the buildings and bridges he found particularly interesting. He enjoyed tennis, skied, and played golf.

"While highly respected for his many talents, his sincere curiosity about others, coupled with his welcoming, positive outlook on life and his charming nature, [made] Hank touch the hearts of acquaintances, as well as family and friends. He never had a bad word for anyone and will be missed by all," his relatives said in a statement.

Along with his wife and four sons, Mr. Bilhuber is survived by six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a brother; and a niece and nephew.

A celebration of life service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 15, at the Wayne Presbyterian Church, 125 E. Lancaster Ave. Interment is private.

Donations may be made to the Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild, 301 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia 19106, or via http://philashipguild.org/donate/.