Obituary of William Earl Lough

William Earl Lough, 91, of Northfield, MN formerly of Stewart Place Morgantown, passed away Sunday, April 20, 2014, at Three Links Care Center. He was born on August 4, 1922 in Morgantown, the youngest son of the late Herman Lester Lough and Alberta Herod Lough. William graduated from Morgantown High School in 1940. He graduated with honors from West Virginia University in August 1947 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering. He was a member of the reserve Officers Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) In 1941 he was elected to Tau Beta Pi. The highest honor awarded for scholastic performance in the Engineering School. He enlisted in the United States Army as a private at the beginning of 1943 and completed his basic training during the summer. He returned to the University in the fall, but his college career was interrupted by World War II at the end of 1943. He completed his officer training at Fort Belvoir, Virginia and graduated as a Second Lieutenant in the Engineering Corps. He married Jeanne Trevillian Lough in June 24, 1944 before going overseas. He served in France and Germany as a platoon leader in a light portable bridge unit. Later he served as Headquarters Company Commander in the European Engineering School and was honorable discharged in July 1946 with the rank of Captain. He returned to active duty during the Korean War in 1952. He was stationed in Camp McCoy, Wisconsin where he served as a chemical warfare instructor in the United States Fifty Army Chemical Defense School. His Civilian Career began in 1947 in Library, Pennsylvania with Consolidated Coal Company as a research chemical engineer. He was transferred to Newark, New Jersey as manager of Pitt Consol Chemical Company. In 1964 he was promoted to Vice President of Operations. Mr. Lough joined Wallace and Tierman in 1968; a family operated Chemical Company, as president of their Harchem Division. The company was sold to Pennwalt Corporation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Mr. Lough continued as president of the Harchem division. In 1975 he was promoted to assistant to the first vice president of Pennwalt Corporation with headquarters in Philadelphia. He retired in 1985 and continued an active life with his family in Bryn Maur, Pennsylvania. He and his wife were active in the Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks and charity events, which benefited Philadelphia Museum of Art. He was a member of Overbrook Golf Club. In 1989 he and his wife returned to Morgantown, West Virginia where their families and ancestors had lived form the revolution war period until the present. They began a study of their family histories in Virginia and West Virginia, which dated back to the seventeenth century. Mr. Lough found that he was a descended from four great grandfathers five times removed who are all buried in Monongalia County. He was a member of the United Wesley Methodist Church and served one term on the Administrative Board. He is survived by sons William E. Lough II and spouse Barbara Pinaire of Edina, Minnesota; David A. Lough and spouse Sydney Moore of Seattle, Washington. He is also survived by four granddaughters, Erin, Trevelyn, Rachel and Aubrey Lough; one great-grandson Kadin Joseph Lough-Morelli. Mr. Lough was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Dr. Donald H. Lough and wife France Gocke; Harold L. Lough and wife Fay Gutherie; sister, Beatrice Lough Sproat and husband, Raymond F. Sproat and one daughter Kimberly Carol Lough. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Morgantown to be announced. Memorial contributions may be made to Ruby Memorial Hospital, Grateful Patients and Families Fund make checks payable to WVU Foundation, P.O. Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26507 or Three Links Foundation, 815 Forest Avenue, Northfield, MN 55057. This obituary appears as a courtesy of Hastings Funeral Home.