Wilbur Jay Shenk Jr. ’41

Bill died Dec. 27, 2012. He was a resident of Bentley Village in Naples, Fla. Among his relatives who attended Princeton were Wilbur Shenk ’28, Charles Shenk ’30, and Allen Shenk ’30.

Bill prepared for Princeton at the University School of Cleveland and Exeter Academy. At Princeton he majored in chemistry and graduated with high honors.

He roomed senior year with Janney, Munkenbeck, Gaylord, H.A. Smith, and G. Harper. He was awarded a minor “P” for JV football, and he joined Tiger Inn.

In 1944, Bill earned a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Illinois. During the war he was a research chemist for the National Defense Research Committee at the University of Illinois and the University of Maryland, and continued that work at Harshaw Chemical Co. from 1945 to 1952. He served as president of Paterson Leitch Co. from 1952 to 1982, when he retired.

Bill was predeceased by his wife, Jean Murfeldt Shenk. He is survived by his daughters, Sandra Shenk and Claire Rodgers; son Charles; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.