Richard Alden Bull

Richard Alden Bull, 71 of Garnet Valley, PA died Friday, December 26, 2014 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

He was the husband of Rachel Bacon Bull.

Richard Alden Bull was born to the late Richard C. Bull and the late Josephine Rothermel Bull in Bryn Mawr, Penn., on March 15, 1943, and grew up nearby in Villanova. He was often called Alden. Alden graduated from the Colorado Academy near Denver, CO. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont and a master’s in education from Temple University.

Mr. Bull worked for 30 years as a dedicated problem solver in his capacity as a Vice President in the Financial Division of the Philadelphia National Corporation (now Wells Fargo Bank). Upon retirement from the banking world, Alden returned to education and taught mathematics. He later became the Director of Upattinas School in Glenmoore, Penn., an independent school dedicated to democratic ideals where students took responsibility for their education and community. Alden was regarded as a good listener and helped many people find common ground.

He was a member of the Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia (also known as Arch Street Friends Meeting) and served in many capacities including clerk of the meeting and treasurer. Alden also generously served on the boards and as treasurer for both Friends Select School in Philadelphia and Delaware Valley Friends School in Paoli. He carried out the duties of President of the Board for the Friends Neighborhood Guild, a settlement house, in North Philadelphia. In addition Alden shared his financial talents with the American Friends Service Committee's Retirement Committee. Recently he served on the Haverford College Corporation.

He loved nature and challenges. At the age of 16, he canoed for eight weeks with other campers and counselors to the Hudson Bay. He spent summers being a camper then a counselor for the Keewaydin Camp, and later Farm and Wilderness Summer Camps, both in Vermont. Alden enjoyed leading adventurous mountain hiking and whitewater canoeing trips. For 35 years he and his family enjoyed hiking, swimming, and canoeing at Twin Lakes in NE Pennsylvania where they have a summer home. He and his wife spent years restoring 4 homes.

In addition to his wife of 49 years, he is survived by his children and their families: daughter Tabitha and her husband Thomas Shuey and their daughters Claire and Gail; son Benjamin B. Bull and his wife Mia Gannon; and son George and his wife Jennifer Bull and their sons Thomas Donnelly and George E. Bull. He is also survived by his siblings Michael Bull of Lancaster, Penn. and Pam B. Abrams of Old Tappan, NJ.

Relatives and friends are invited to his Memorial Service on Sat., Jan. 10, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. taking place at the Westtown Friends Meetinghouse on the East School Lane entrance of the Westtown School in West Chester, PA 19382.

Interment for both Richard Alden Bull & Rachel Bacon Bull were buried in a joint grave in the Bull Plot in the Milford PA

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to AMYLOIDOSIS SUPPORT GROUPS, 232 Orchard Drive, Wood Dale, IL 60191 or http://www.amyloidosissupport.org.

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. of West Chester, PA 610-696-1181; www.DellaFH.com.
 

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