Edward L. Wentz, Jr., of Oak Ridge, NC, and formerly of Telford, PA, passed away Sunday, October 20, 2024, at Grand View Hospital, Sellersville, PA.  He was 85.

He was the husband of 64 years of the late Beverly A. (DeTurk) Wentz until her passing on June 20, 2024.

Born in Sellersville, PA, he was the son of the late Edward L. Sr. and Evelyn (Kulp) Wentz.  A 1956 graduate of Pennridge High School, Perkasie, PA, he attained his Mechanical Engineering Degree and later his Master of Business Administration from Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA.

Mr. Wentz began his professional career in mechanical engineering with Capital Controls, Colmar, PA, starting as a draftsman until his eventual role as the Vice President of Engineering & Operations working there for 14 years.  Then, he owned and operated TC&M Systems, Inc., Kernersville, NC, working as a Manufacturers' Representative and Salesman in the Environmental Industry from 1988 until retiring in 2005.

A former member of Grace United Methodist Church, Telford, Mr. Wentz was a member of Oak Ridge Methodist Church, Oak Ridge, NC, where he was active with church mission projects to Brazil, Guatemala, Bolivia, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Following Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Wentz and his late wife traveled to Mississippi and stayed for a month to provide emergency aid to those affected.  They also made multiple trips to Zimbabwe in Africa to bring water to surrounding towns and provide medical aid.  It was here he met Africa University student Isaiah Njimbu Chot and they began Child Action Initiative/Shoes & Socks for Isaiah's Kids, located in Isaiah's home country the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  In the 15 years since the founding of these organizations, they helped raise raised thousands of dollars to send children to school, adults to Africa University, and brought running water and clean resources to the towns he visited.  And yet, through all of his hobbies, excursions and experiences, there was nothing more important to him than family.

Active with the Boy Scouts organization as a young man, he had a love for nature especially plants, trees and flowers as well as animals particularly birds and dogs.  He also had a great interest in design architecture, having designed his homes in Telford and Oak Ridge.

He is survived by two children, Edward L. Wentz, III, and his wife Nancy Goldfinch, of Oak Ridge, NC, and Beth A. Freed and her husband Gary, of Perkasie, PA; three grandchildren, Alex E. Freed and his wife Kristianna, Jennifer D. Shelly and her husband Christopher, and Sydney A. Wentz; and six great-grandchildren, Holly, Bria, Calvin and Hannah Freed, and Lincoln and Miles Shelly.  In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Shirley Harner.

Services will be announced at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Child Action Initiative, c/o Oak Ridge Methodist Church, P. O. Box 538, Oak Ridge, NC  27310-9723.

Arrangements are by the Suess-Gahman Funeral Home & Crematory, 606 Arch Street, Perkasie, PA.