William E. McLaughlin died on Sunday, September 4 2011 at his home at Cathedral Village in Roxborough. He was 89 years young. Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of Marcellus and Alice Gilbert McLaughlin of Germantown and the loving husband of the late Elsie Walker McLaughlin. He is survived by his four daughters, Sandra (Stuart) McFarland of Washington DC, Cathy (Gary) Glazer of Philadelphia, Martha McLaughlin of Ambler and Jennifer McLaughlin of Philadelphia, step daughter Becket Doyle of Atlanta GA, step son Robert Swartley of Philadelphia, six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. His brother Marcellus H. McLaughlin Jr. predeceased him. Mr. McLaughlin graduated from William Penn Charter School and Cornell University. He had a distinguished army career in World War II as captain in the Combat Army Corps of Engineers, which included building bridges under battle, conditions in Germany. He also served in England and France. Following the outbreak of the Korean War, he reenlisted in the Army and was stationed at Indiantown Gap. After the war, Mr. McLaughlin worked for Ball and Kauffman Real Estate and went on to have his own company responsible for building over 250 homes in Montgomery County and New Jersey. During the course of his professional career, he was a licensed engineer, builder, real estate broker and finally appraiser for the Federal Government in Pennsylvania. In recent years, Mr. McLaughlin was one of the local vets interviewed in 2007 by Channel 12 in Philadelphia for the Ken Burns' series on World War ll. In addition, he collaborated with his good friend, the late Richard Hughes, in preparing a book which chronicled their visits to over 200 museums in the Delaware Valley. Their journey, which began as an effort by Mr. Hughes to console his friend following the death of his wife Elsie in 2005, resulted in a front page story in the Philadelphia Inquirer and subsequently an interview on National Public Radio. Mr. McLaughlin and Mr. Hughes also volunteered their services at the Chestnut Hill Hospital Outpatient Recovery Room in their later years. He served as a Commissioner of Whitemarsh Township during the 1960's. During his lifetime, he was an avid golfer, squash and tennis player at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. On Saturday, October 1st at 11:00 am, there will be a memorial service at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Chestnut Hill, 22 E. Chestnut Hill Ave., Phila., PA 19118 In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Chestnut Hill. Arrangements by The Oliver H. Bair Co. (215) 563-1580.