William Faust, purchasing director

William G. Faust Sr. helped keep fellowship gatherings lively for members of the United Methodist Church in Haddonfield, his wife, Joanne, said.

For years, she said, he was often in charge of the Saturday Nighters, a weekly dinner that has gone by the wayside, later replaced by the Wednesday Night Dinner.

And he had a hand in the Magical Dinner, an annual fund-raiser staged by and for the church's music department.

At the church and beyond, she said, "he was willing to do anything he had to."

On Friday, Nov. 4, Mr. Faust, 78, of Barrington, who retired in the early 2000s as director of purchasing at what is now Rowan University, died at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden following a stroke.

Born in Norristown, Mr. Faust graduated in 1956 from what is now Norristown Area High School and entered the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.

After study at Ursinus College, he was called to active duty during the Berlin Crisis of 1961, sent to a base in Arkansas. He returned to earn a bachelor's degree in business at Rutgers-Camden.

In the early 1960s, Mr. Faust began his career as an accountant at Rowan and, his wife said, "began taking inventory" of the school's nuts and bolts, which had not been done before.

As his career progressed, she said, he not only liked his job but "loved it with all his heart."

A member of the United Methodist Church in Haddonfield for 49 years, Mr. Faust was in charge of its property and maintenance and also served as an usher and a trustee.

He was a member of the National Saltwater Angler Registry, his wife said, and he held a recreational senior citizen oyster and clam license.

Near their summer home in Ocean City, N.J., she said, he would occasionally take a college group clamming, and "he had a ball."

Besides his wife, Mr. Faust is survived by son Bill Jr., daughter Cidney Jo, and four grandchildren.

A visitation was set from 9 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at the United Methodist Church, 29 Warwick Rd., Haddonfield, N.J. 08033, before an 11 a.m. funeral there. Interment is to be private.

Donations may be sent to the church at the above address for its property and maintenance needs.

Condolences may be offered to the family at kainmurphy.com.

wnaedele@phillynews.com

610-313-8134 @WNaedele