Charles William "Bill" Bercaw

Obituary Charles William “Bill” Bercaw Jr.

June 11, 1930-July 4, 2022

Charles William “C.W.” Bercaw Jr. passed away peacefully at the age of 92 in Lebanon, Ohio on the Fourth of July 2022 after a lifetime of service to his family, community and country. Bill, affectionately known to many as “C.W.” was born in Lebanon, Ohio on June 11, 1930 at the Blair Brothers Hospital to C.W Bercaw Sr. and Lucile Eades (Flowers) Bercaw.

Bill was a well respected patriarch and his family was his greatest asset. He was loved and cared about by all who knew him. Bill was preceded in death by his father Charles William Sr. and his mother Lucile, his sister Nancy Gail Bercaw (Spaeth), his wife Eleanor and his daughter Pamela. He is survived by his Aunt Christine (Bercaw) More, his daughters Lynn (Paul) Vitek, Mary Jane Bercaw, Beth Hersam, and sons-in-law Timothy (Betsey) Gibson and Martin Hersam. Grandchildren Jennifer Vitek (Victor) Carreño, Sarah Gibson (Samuel) Walston, John (Julia) Vitek, Abigail Hersam and Eleanor Hersam and great grandchildren Vivienne Carreño, William Vitek, Violet Vitek, Theodore Vitek, and Cameron Walston as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews and their spouses and children.

Bill grew up in the town of Mason, Ohio along with his younger sister Nancy Gail. His father was the eldest of 6 siblings with two brothers and three sisters and often his father’s family would visit along with their children. His mother, Lucile, was originally from Columbia, Kentucky and she was one of five siblings. She had two brothers and two younger sisters who were an important part of Bill’s life. It was these strong family connections that developed Bill’s love of family at an early age. He attended William Mason High School where he played basketball and baseball, was active in the Glee Club and theatre, and was elected president of his graduating class in 1948.

Bill graduated from Wilmington College in 1952 with a B.S. in Economics/Business Administration and was also a member of the Sigma Zeta Fraternity. It was at the Wilmington College library that Bill spotted a recent transfer from Queens College in New York City. Little did he know at the time that she was Eleanor Ingels and she would be the “one.”

In order to complete his education, Bill went to his local army recruiting office and agreed that he would enlist upon his graduation. Within days of graduation Bill started basic training at Fort Indiantown Gap in Pennsylvania. During a 3 day leave before deployment he proposed to Eleanor and promised to marry her upon his return from active duty. He served in the Army from 1952-1954 as a Corporal and was stationed in Germany for 18 months during the Korean War.

Bill married Eleanor Ingels on March 27, 1954 at the Hollis Presbyterian Church in St. Albans, New York. Afterward they resided in Mason, Ohio and raised four daughters, Pamela, Lynn, Mary Jane and Beth.

Bill worked for the Baldwin Piano and Organ Co. for 30 years, holding management positions including Advertising Manager in Cincinnati, Ohio, Divisional Sales Manager in Jackson, Mississippi and Manager/New York Retail Division in New York City where he worked a block from Carnegie Hall. It was there he met and entertained such talents as Leonard Bernstein, Liberace, George Shearing and many other famous pianists. He was also Manager/Dealer Services Department and Director of Investor Relations at the Baldwin Headquarters in Cincinnati. Eventually he moved his family back to Symmes Township in Cincinnati where his children completed their schooling at Indian Hill High School.

After his retirement from Baldwin, Bill worked as Vice President of Vanguard Financial Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, an industrial and commercial real estate firm. Subsequently he worked as the Symmes Township Administrator from 1991 until his retirement in 1999.

After the death of his wife Eleanor and his retirement, Bill moved back to Mason, Ohio and lived in Pine Run, a condominium complex. He lived across the street from his sister where they could see one another out their kitchen windows and wave good morning while having their coffee. He met and then married his second wife, Charlotte (Schutte) Erbeck on July 17, 2004 surrounded by his family. In 2017 Bill moved to Otterbein Senior Life Community and lived in his own apartment. He formed many friendships with the residents, staff and caregivers.

Bill was a true patriot and lived a life of service not only to his country but his community. This included membership in the Mason Masonic Lodge F&AM #678 from 1951 as a Master Mason; in 2021 he was recognized as a 70 year member. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Cincinnati since 1962 and the Shrine Syrian Temple, Cincinnati, Ohio from 1978 until 2004. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America for 25 years, first as a scout in 1943 and later as a committee member, and also the American Legion. He was also involved in the Warren County Republican Party in the 1960’s. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Mason from 2004 to 2017. He enjoyed volunteering at the annual golf fundraiser and the pancake breakfast and formed numerous friendships while a member. He was a member of the Cincinnati, Ohio State National Board of Realtors and the National Investor Relations Institute. Bill also served on the Symmes Township Planning Committee and was the Chairman of the Hamilton County Regional Planning Committee.

Bill had a strong faith in God that was apparent in his devotion to his church as Trustee in the Mason Presbyterian Church, Ossining New York Presbyterian Church, and Madeira Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was also a member of the Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Mississippi and the Heritage Presbyterian Church in Mason, Ohio.

Bill’s interests included jazz and Big Band music and also western movies, television shows and books. He had an appreciation for cars and keeping his own in pristine condition. He was always dressed for the occasion and it wasn’t Christmas until he donned his red plaid tartan pants.

Most of all he loved boating on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky which was introduced to him by his parents and his mother’s family. Eventually he had his own boat and took his family of six boating on Lake Cumberland as well as the Pearl River in Mississippi and the Hudson River in New York. Once back in Cincinnati he bought a new Signa speed boat he named the FunMachine after a Baldwin electronic piano, and he taught all his girls to waterski on Lake Cumberland. Two houseboats were eventually added to the mix. His best times of all were socializing on his boats at the lake with his family and friends or at his home for the holidays, a birthday or a special event when the martinis were served and the music played on one of the two Baldwin pianos or Baldwin organ he kept in his house. Bill always loved a good party! And it wasn’t complete until Ramsey Lewis was on the turntable.

A visitation will be held on Friday, July 8, 2022 from 10am to 12pm at Mueller Funeral Home. A graveside service is scheduled at 10:30am Saturday July 9, 2022 at Rose Hill Cemetery followed by a Memorial Service at Heritage Presbyterian Church at 12:00PM.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Heritage Presbyterian Church in Mason, Ohio, the Mason Kiwanis Club and EcuaStory Foundation at www.ecuastory.org , the first free public children’s library in the city of Manta, Ecuador founded by Bill’s granddaughter Jennifer Vitek Carreño.