Mr. William “Bill” Marren, Jr., a Willow Grove resident, retired Lieutenant Colonel for the U.S. Air Force, business owner, former Hatboro radio host, and volunteer with the Greater Glenside Patriotic Association (GGPA), passed away on Wednesday, July 8. He was 80 years old.

Mr. Marren graduated in 1964 from Bishop McDevitt High School and enlisted in the Air Force during Vietnam, serving at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho for more than three years. He resumed his Air Force career in 1975 for an additional 33 years, stationed at Willow Grove Naval Air Base and later retiring after 37 years of service, according to his obituary.

Mr. Marren founded his own handyman business (Bill Marren Handyman) and a singing telegram gig, his obituary said. He also hosted a Wednesday afternoon radio show called “Humpday Serenade” at WRDV in Hatboro.

“Here he regaled his listeners with funny stories and beautiful music from the 40’s and 50’s,” his obituary said.

In addition to the GGPA, Mr. Marren participated in Mummers parades, Thanksgiving Day parades, the Sea Isle Polar Bear Plunge, the Schuylkill River Sojourn, the Hatboro Thanksgiving parades, various car shows “and any other public event where he could soak up the vibes”, his obituary said.

“He was courageous to the very end,” Jamey Piggot, president of the GGPA, said.

Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing on Thursday, July 16, 2026 from 6:00-8:00 PM at William R. May Funeral Home, 354 N. Easton Rd. (at Keswick Ave), Glenside, PA 19038 and on Friday, July 17, 2026 at Queen of Peace Church, 820 North Hills Ave., Ardsley PA from 9:00 AM until his Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM. His interment with military honors will follow in Whitemarsh Memorial Park, Ambler.

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