Obituary of Paul S Zachar
Paul S. Zachar, a long-time resident of Upper Dublin Township, died Tuesday, June 5th, 2018 in Abington Hospital after numerous hospitalizations and skilled rehab stays. He was 93 years old. Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of Paul and Anna Zachar. He was the youngest of 4 children. His siblings all preceded him in death (Anna, Adele, William). He was preceded in death by his wife, Lydia M. Zachar, to whom he was married for 51 years.
He received the American Legion Medal from Post 332 for courage, honor, service, leadership and scholarship and awarded by the John Paul Jones Junior High School, Philadelphia, PA. His Brother William had received the same medal six years earlier.
Mr. Zachar was a graduate of Northeast High School in Philadelphia. After World War II, he attended and graduated from Pennsylvania Military College (PMC) (now Widener University).
He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Southwest Pacific with the U.S. Army and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant while serving with the 171st and 179th Finance Disbursing Section. He received the Philippines’ Liberation Ribbon with 1 Bronze Star, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Medal with 2 Bronze Stars, Victory Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He was very proud of his military service and even in his later years remembered his fellow soldiers by name and what state they came from and enjoyed telling stories of his time in the service (which included Five-Star General Douglas MacArthur and Major Richard Ira Bong, one of the most decorated WWII fighter pilots).
While living in Palomino Farms in Warrington, PA, he enjoyed refinishing numerous pieces of antique furniture for his home. It was a labor of love, and he did all of it by hand, using razor blades and numerous grades of sandpaper to achieve a satin finish to the wood before staining and waxing.
He was a historian at heart, and interviewed and visited many individuals at the end of their careers (Philadelphia soccer players, professional baseball players, as well as some elder family members to capture family history).
Prior to his retirement, Mr. Zachar was employed as an Accountant for Selas Corporation of America in Dresher, PA, a Budget Analyst in the Controller’s Workshop for Unisys Corporation in Blue Bell, PA, and Controller for Whitemarsh Valley Country Club in Lafayette Hill, PA.
Paul was an avid baseball and football fan and liked to do baseball research. He enjoyed work with baseball statistics and was a former member of Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) and the Professional Football Researchers Association. In 1982 he coauthored a published article entitled Hinkey Haines: The Giants’ First Superstar.
He is survived by a daughter, Lydia D. Dharia of Maple Glen, PA. His surviving Nephews and a Niece are Warren Schloesser, William P. Zachar, Jr. and Barbara Campanaro.
Relatives and friends are invited to his funeral service at Lownes Family Funeral Home, 659 Germantown Pike, Lafayette Hill, PA on Tuesday, June 12th from 10-11 a.m., followed by his 11 am funeral service at the funeral home and his internment at George Washington Memorial Park, 80 Stenton Avenue, Plymouth Meeting, PA.