John Rehm Batley

John Rehm Batley of Crosslands, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania passed away February 9, 2017. 

He was born in Wilkinsburg, PA December 17, 1934, the son of Elisabeth Rehm and Carleton Batley. 

John graduated from Westtown School and Lafayette College (BS in Pre-Law) where he was President of Theta Delta Chi. He obtained his MBA at Lehigh University in 1960.

He served in the U.S. Army in Germany during the post-war occupation and was discharged as Captain.  He was a life member of the Retired Officers Association and 3rd Armored Veterans Association.

John married Anne Scarlett Moore of West Chester in 1956 and three children followed: Deborah Anne Gilligan (Larry) of Hollywood, Maryland, John James “Jay” of San Francisco, California and Robert Moore (Kris)of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania and two grandchildren: Aimhirghin Griffyn and Emma Gilligan.

John and Anne celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in August, 2016.

John served in the Personnel/Labor Relations Department of the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA) and while there also served as Director of the Evening Program of Penn State University’s New Kensington Campus.  In 1965, he was named the Business Manager of Westtown School where his responsibilities included (in addition to those normal duties), overseeing the school’s dairy farm, orchard, lake and all water, electrical, and sewage systems for the 600-acre campus.   As a consultant with Independent School Management (ISM), he led workshops on, and was a consultant of, financial management and school operations.

 As founder of the Philadelphia Area Independent School Business Officers Association (PAISBOA), John brought together a group of colleges and schools in southeastern Pennsylvania to capitalize on group purchasing of medical insurance and other joint efforts.  The group established the John Batley Award given each year to a Business Manager who has made significant contributions to the profession of the group.

John was a long-time member of the Rotary Club of West Chester serving as President in 1975-1976.  In the same year, he helped found the Rotary Club of Westtown/West Goshen.  Additional community service included the Saint Andrews Episcopal Church of New Kensington(vestry), United Way, Hamilton Bank (Director), the President’s Advisory Council of West Chester University, Chester County (PA) Library (Trustee), and being named an honorary member of the Eagles Mere/ Laporte Lions Club.

After 32 years at Westtown School, John retired to Laporte, Pennsylvania, where he served as Mayor and a member of the Borough Council.  He was an active member of the Sullivan County Library Board and helped found the Carpenter Cruise benefitting the Laporte Volunteer Fire Company. 

In addition to his wife, children and grandchildren, he is survived by his brother James Vaughn Batley of Gaithersburg, Maryland.

He felt very blessed in life and was deeply grateful. 

There will be a memorial service at Westtown School on Saturday April 8, 2017 at 2 pm in the Meeting House followed by a reception.  His ashes will be interred at Mountain Ash Cemetery in Laporte, Pennsylvania on Sunday, June 25, 2017 at 1 pm. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Laporte Volunteer Fire Company, Pennsylvania, and P.O. Box 31. Laporte, PA 18626.

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. of West Chester, 610-696-1181. Friends and colleagues are invited to leave and view messages at www.dellafh.com. 

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