Wade Forrest Bender of Springettsbury Twp., York, PA died of natural causes, with his wife by his side, at Autumn House-East on Tuesday, March 20, 2018. He was 91 years old.

Mr. Bender retired from Central York School District in 1990 after 40 years in the field of education as a teacher, coach, counselor, and administrator.

He was born in Millvale, Allegheny County on February 6, 1927 and was the son of the late George D. and Anna R. (Kohles) Bender. He leaves his wife, Elaine C. (Carson) Bender of York; to whom he was married for 65 years; a goddaughter, Sandra (Shull) DeSalvio, her husband, Dr. James DeSalvio and their two children, Aaron and Amelia DeSalvio of Illinois and a sister, Carol Anne Gilliland of Florida.

Mr. Bender was a 1945 graduate of Millvale High School, a 1950 graduate of Slippery Rock College and a 1958 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. He had done post-graduate work at the Penn State University and Western Maryland College.

He taught and coached at Berlin-Brothersvalley School District in Berlin, PA and in the Rostraver Township School District in Westmoreland County before assuming a position with Central York School District in 1961.

He was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII. He was previously a member of Belle Vernon Lodge # 643, F&AM, a member of Zeredetha Lodge # 451, F&AM, York Forest #30, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, the Harrisburg Consistory, Square Club of York, White Rose Scottish Rite Club, Red Lion Scottish Rite Club, and past member of the Board of Directors of the National League of Masonic Clubs, the Uniontown Lodge of Perfection AASR, the Pittsburgh Consistory, and a previous member of the Syria Temple, Pittsburgh.

Mr. Bender was active in both community and professional activities. He was a life member of the Pennsylvania State Education Association and served a term on its executive board; and he served as president of the PSEA Department of Pupil Services and as President of the Guidance Section. He was past president of the York County Guidance Counselors, a past member of the Pennsylvania Association of Pupil Personnel Administrators, where he served two terms as president and as a past member of the Pennsylvania School Counselors Association. He was past president of the former York County Guidance Center Board of Directors, a past president of the York/Adams Mental Health and Mental Retardation Advisory Board, a member of the Board of Directors for the Susquehanna Counseling Associates, a member and past officer of the Children’s Home of York Board of Directors, a member of the Board of Directors of the Margaret Moul Home, and previously a member of Phi Delta Kappa. Mr. Bender was also an instructor. Mr. Bender was also an instructor of the AARP 55/Alive program and chairman of the scholarship committee in the York Chapter of the PA Association of School Retirees.

He was a member of Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and had served as member and President of the church council.

A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 23, 2018 at the Etzweiler Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, 1111 E. Market Street, York, with his pastor, the Rev. Brian A. McClinton, officiating. A visitation will be held from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. A masonic service will be held by the Zeredetha Lodge # 451, F&AM at 1:15 p.m. A flag folding presentation by the York County Veteran Honor Guard will be held at the funeral home. A private burial will be in Mount Zion Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2164 Mount Zion Road, York, PA 17406 or to Heartland Homehealth and Hospice, 3417 Concord Road, Suite C, York, PA 17402.

Arrangements by the Etzweiler Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, 1111 E. Market St., York, PA 17403.