William Pontus Werme, Jr.

William Pontus Werme, Jr., 90, passed away at his residence Saturday, August 29, 2015. Bill was born June 29, 1925 in Pittsburgh, PA, the son of the late Eugenia K. and William Pontus Werme. He graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School in 1943 and then served in the Army Air Force until 1945. In 1948 he married Betty Jane Walker in the Heinz Chapel on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Business Administration. He began a 40 year career with Acacia Mutual as a Certified Life Underwriter and was recognized as a member of the Million Dollar Round Table "Hall of Fame" and named as Acacia Mutual's "Man of the Year". He and Betty Jane were residents of Pittsburgh prior to moving to Asheville in 2011 and wintered at Eagle Beach, Aruba and Jupiter, Florida. Bill was an active member of the Christ United Methodist Church in Bethel Park, PA. He was an active golfer, game birds hunter and avid tennis player till 88 years old and he loved going to the theater in Pittsburgh and Jupiter. He was a conservative Republican and a member of the University of Pittsburgh chapter of Phi Gamma Delta. He was active with the Meals on Wheels programs in Pittsburgh and Washington County, PA. He and Betty Jane traveled all over the world, only regretting not visiting Spain. He said the most beautiful place he ever visited was a palace ballroom dinner reception in Vienna, the most classy was a week's stay at "The Greenbrier" resort in West Virginia and the most amazing was at his daughter Beverly's home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. In his last days he always asked for a "good" Chardonnay with his meals. Bill is survived by his wife, Betty Jane Werme; son, William Gordon Werme of Chicago, Illinois; two daughters, Barbara Jean Deegan and her husband Michael, of Asheville and Beverly Sue Schulman and her husband, Ira, of Chicago, Illinois. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, Wesley Werme Cartwright, Ryan Patrick Deegan, Max Jacob Schulman, Mackenzie Kristin Deegan, Zachary William Schulman, Cody Walker Werme, Zoey Whitney Werme and Wyatt William Werme and three great grandchildren, Brenley Jude Cartwright, Lux Ruby Deegan and Blake Ellen Cartwright, as well as cherished nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 4:00 pm, Friday, September 4, 2015 in the chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian. A reception will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, kindly make a donation in Bill's memory to his favorite charity, "Foundation Fighting Blindness" (www.FightBlindness.org/Werme).