William A. Humphrey

William A. Humphrey, age 81, residing at Concordia at Cabot, Concordia Lutheran Ministries, and formerly of Penn Hills, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 2, 2026. William was the son of the late Earl and Dorothy (Schroeder) Humphrey. Beloved husband to the late Virginia A. Humphrey (Pearce). Loving father of William “Bill” (Dawn) Humphrey and Peter (Terri) Humphrey. Grandfather of William Arthur and Nathan Richard Henry (Bill & Dawn), and Rachel Marie and Joshua Paul (Peter & Terri). He is survived by his brother, Robert “Bob” Humphrey.

William will be remembered as a loving father and husband, grounded in his faith, with a passion for his work, gardening, and trains. Having worked at PPG (Pittsburgh Paints & Glass) as a research & development lab technician throughout his career, he used his passion for chemistry to enable the development and advancement of the industry through his work in coatings and automotive finishes, having contributed to, and listed as an inventor on several patents. He jokingly would say during his tenure in automotive refinish that he was paid to “watch paint dry”, but there was much more to it than that!

His faith in Christ was best reflected in his service and commitment to Redeemer Lutheran Church where he served as the Sunday School Superintendent and later as Trustee for numerous years. He was deeply involved in the genesis and growth of the Redeemer Lutheran School, helping to enable the church to outreach into, and support the community by providing an opportunity for a Christian education and to share the gospel. He found great joy in serving the Lord and supporting the church and school.

Gardening was a profound passion of William’s, whether it was growing vegetables in the backyard garden, fruit trees in the yard, or roses in the flower beds. Orchids were his favorite, and he seemingly would have a variety of them blooming around the house throughout the year. He always enjoyed working outside in the garden and landscaping the yard, finding joy and peace in his hard work.

From his earliest years, William was fascinated by trains and had a passion for model railroading. As young children, Bill and Peter loved “helping” Dad run the trains on the D.&L.B. Railroad layout in the basement. It was only later that they really gained an appreciation for the acronym of D.&L.B., which stood for “Dad & Little Boys.” In later years, William joined the Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum (WPMRM) and was able to focus his passion, moving it from a hobby to a legacy by helping to preserve the history of railroading in Pittsburgh and the Western Pennsylvania region. He volunteered extensively at the museum, supporting the modeling and development of the current layout, the annual holiday train display titled “A Railroad Journey in Miniature,” and their current expansion activities. In the WPMRM, William found kindred spirits who shared his passion for railroading and found a way to help preserve that rich history and to share it with the public.

Friends and family will be received on Sunday, November 8, 2026, from 2-6 p.m. at the BURKET-TRUBY FUNERAL HOME CREMATION AND ALTERNATIVE SERVICES, INC. at 421 Allegheny Ave., Oakmont, PA 15139.

A funeral service will be held the following day, Monday, November 9, 2026, 10:30 a.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Oakmont. Interment is at Lakewood Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church located at 1261 Pennsylvania Avenue, Oakmont, PA 15139. Phone:(412) 828-9323 https://www.redeemer-oakmont.org/ or to the Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum, 5507 Lakeside Drive Gibsonia PA 15044. Phone: (724) 444-6944 https://wpmrm.org/