Eddie Kling

Eddie Kling of Perkasie passed away peacefully on Friday, October 28, 2005, at his residence surrounded by his family. He was 58.

He was the beloved husband of Gail E. (Krout) Kling.

Born in New York, New York, he was a son of Ella Louise (Ewing) Mathis and her husband, Fred, of Perkasie. He was a 1966 graduate of Palisades High School.

Eddie served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1970, achieving the rank of sergeant. Serving in Europe as a finance and training officer, he had secret clearance. After his military career, he served an apprenticeship as a millwright at Montgomery county Vocational Technical School in 1971. He began working for the former Hartman Trailer Co., Perkasie. He later worked for Marshall Maintenance, Trenton, N.J. and the former Keystone Millwright Co., Pottstown.

In April 1982, he co-founded Universal Industrial Group. Telford, with his brother, David. As president of Universal, Eddie was responsible for overall management of the firm that specialized in industrial service : and maintenance. At its peak, Universal employed over 200. Over the last 20 years, Eddie and Universal provided maintenance and repairs to the Perkasie Carousel at no cost to the Perkasie Historical Society.

Eddie was a popular business¬man, active in the community as a volunteer and contributor to many local organizations and events. He was a past vice president and director of the Pennridge Chamber of Commerce, where he established and chaired the annual Golf Tournament for many years. He had served on various boards of directors, including the Freedom Valley Girl Scout Council, the Salvation Army, Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Other; civic organizations he volunteered with include, Pennridge Greenjacket Football, where he and his company provided the stadium lights, field shed and concession stand in East Rockhill Township, Perkasie Historical Society, Bucks County International Council and Perkasie Olde Towne. Eddie coached many .years with the Pennridge Little League and Deep Run Sports and Pennridge Cheerleaders and Pennridge Weight Program.

He was a member of Ridge Valley United Church of Christ, Sellersville. A man of great faith, Eddie lived his life believing he should provide for his beloved family and friends, always giving back to the community. His generosity knew no bounds. He had been honored with many community awards Including the 1994 Pennridge Chamber of Commerce Business Achievement Award. He recently received the Sixth Annual Living History Award by the Perkasie Historical Society.

In addition to his' wife and parents, he is survived by five children, Jesse Kling, Heather L. Kling and her fiance, Scott Huhn, Tiffany A. Kling, and her boyfriend, Kyle Schulz, all of Quakertown, James -R. Hessler, and his wife, Mandy and Michael S. Lorenz and his fiancee, Aodrea Husted, all of Telford; six grandchildren; his siblings, David W. Kling and his wife, Deb, of Coopersburg, Louise H. Sharrer and her husband, Bill, of Myrtle Beach, N.C., Rick Mathis of Colmar, Michael Mathis and his wife, Sue, of Canton, PA and Lisa Goetz and her husband, Joe, of Perkasie; and his parents-ill-law, Erwin C. and Arlene (Kemmerer) Krout.

He was preceded in death by his previous wife, Jean (Watkins) Kling.

His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, November 2, in Calvary Church, 820 Route 113, Souderton, where relatives and friends may call from 6 until 9 p.m. Tuesday evening, November 1, and from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Wednesday morning. The family invites all attendees to a funeral luncheon to be held at Calvary Church immediately following the funeral.

Interment will be conducted after the luncheon in Springfield Church of the Brethren Cemetery, Coopersburg.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to A Dolphins Promise for Cancer Research, 2800 Wood Duck Dr., Virginia Beach, VA 23456, or The Girl Scouts of Freedom Valley, 100 Juliette Low Way, P.O. Box 814, Valley Forge, PA 19482, or Ridge Valley United Church of Christ, 905 Allentown Road, Sellersville, PA 18960.