Alfred C. Webber of Chadds Ford passed away at his home on Wednesday, August 8, 2012.  He was 104 years old.  Born in Lisbon Falls, Maine on October 10, 1907, Alfred was the son of the late Hattie Louise Webber (nee. Littlefield) and the late Chester Elton Webber.

Al graduated from Lisbon Falls High School, Bates College (B.S. 1928) and Boston University (M.S. 1940). He started his career as an educator, teaching science in high schools in Franklin and  Brookline, Massachusetts.  In 1942 he joined the DuPont Company’s Plastic Department Research Laboratory in Arlington, New Jersey, where he set up the company’s first Physical Measurements Laboratory.  When that Department was moved to the Experimental Station in Wilmington, Delaware, Al followed.  He developed standardized test methods for comparison of products in research and development throughout the company.  Al was president of the American Society of Testing and Materials in 1962 and was the plastics chairman of the International Standards Organization. He became a Fellow of the Optical Society of America, was awarded the International Award by the Society of Plastics Engineers, and the ASTM Award of Merit. He retired from DuPont in 1972.

Al was very active in the community establishing Cub Packs and Scout Troops, working on Chadds Ford May Fairs and reunions.  He served on the Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board, was active with the Chadds Ford Historical Society, and was Judge of Elections in Birmingham Township.  He became a Director Emeritus of the Kennett Symphony Orchestra of Chester County.

His hobbies of stamp collecting, gardening, astronomy, photography and lapidary filled his retirement years.  Most of all, he enjoyed sharing his knowledge and love of these things.  He was a Life Member of the Delaware Astronomical Society where he received the Luther J. Porter Educator Award, a Fellow of Mount Cuba Astronomical Observatory,  a Life Member of The Tuscarora Lapidary Society, and an Honorary Member of the Delaware Photographic Society.  He was a Brother of the Granite-Corinthian Lodge No. 34, serving as a Mason for 81 years.

Alfred was the beloved husband for 52 years to the late Margaret F. Webber (nee. Vaughn).  She passed away in 1982.  He was the father of Alfred C. Webber, Jr., and David V. Webber of Chadds Ford, Philip A. Webber of Marlton, New Jersey and Judith M. Stark and her husband, James of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  His is also survived by 4 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.  

A Remembrance service will be offered at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 25, 2012 at the LONGWOOD FUNERAL HOME of MATTHEW GENEREUX, 913 East Baltimore Pike in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania 19348 (610-388-6070 tel.).

Burial will be private at the family cemetery in Maine.

Please omit flowers.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Kennett Symphony Orchestra of Chester County, 105 South Broad Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348 -or- Mt. Cuba Astronomical Observatory, 1610 Hillside Mill Road Greenville, DE 19807 -or- Bates College, 2 Andrews Road Lewiston, ME 04240.

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