Edward Joseph Knorr, 79, retired chemical company owner

Edward Joseph Knorr, 79, formerly of Boothwyn, a retired owner of Advanced Chemicals Inc., died of Alzheimer's disease Monday, July 25, at Fair Acres Geriatric Center in Lima.

After a career in sales with General Electric Co. and ITE Corp., Mr. Knorr established Advanced Chemicals in 1965. The Upper Darby firm initially produced lubricating oil and grease. It later manufactured powdered pigments and dyes for paints and cosmetics.

He retired in 2003.

Mr. Knorr grew up in Fairmount. He graduated from Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia, where he played on the football team, and then studied engineering at Villanova University for three years.

During the Korean War, he served in the Navy in Bermuda.

In 1956, he married Anne McGinnis. The couple raised three children in Drexel Hill and later divorced. In 1994, he married Patricia Diehl.

Mr. Knorr served on the Upper Darby school board for nine years and was a member of the Upper Darby Township Civil Service Commission for three years. He was a member of the Holy Name Society at St. Bernadette Roman Catholic Church in Drexel Hill and the Knights of Columbus chapter in Springfield.

He and his wife vacationed annually on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands; in Key West, Fla.; and on Nantucket Island. He enjoyed ice cream, cigars, and the company of his dog, Gracie, she said.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Knorr is survived by daughters Lisa Marie Migliori and JoAnne Bradley; a son, Edward; stepchildren Kimberly Reilly, Amy Reese, Kevin Diehl, and Kathleen McCloud; 15 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and his former wife. A son, Michael, died in 1998.

A Funeral Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, July 30, at St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church, 33 New Rd., Lenni. Friends may call from 9. Burial will be in the church cemetery.