William Bernard Middendorf Sr., 90

William B. Middendorf Sr., 90, of Bethany Beach, Del., passed away peacefully early in the morning of Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.

Middendorf was born Nov. 8, 1921, in Covington, Ky., to William A. and Mary Elizabeth Brueggen Middendorf, the eldest of five children, including Dorothy, Mary, Ann and Dick. He attended Blessed Sacrament School in Fort Mitchell, Ky., Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, and University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., in the Class of 1943.

The day after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Middendorf enlisted in the armed forces. He completed an accelerated degree and was assigned to the Navy Program V-8. He was commissioned a lieutenant, J.G., and married Aug. 21, 1943, the day after his commissioning ceremony at the University of Colombia Midshipman School in New York. Middendorf spent four years in the U.S. Navy as a navigation officer in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He participated in accepting the surrender of thousands of Japanese on the island of Chichijima.

After the war, the couple lived in Covington, Ky., and Fort Wayne, Ind., before Middendorf renovated a new family home in Washington, D.C. He worked for Mack Miller Candle Company, Burroughs Business Machines and Mack-Miller.

Middendorf dedicated service to the church and priests of several archdioceses. He handled candles during construction of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, drove thousands of miles to help distant churches and provided Christian Brothers altar wine. His family also helped in the church effort.

Middendorf served as president and in other offices for Notre Dame Alumnae Association of the District of Columbia. He was a longtime parishioner, mentor and usher at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Chevy Chase, Md. The Middendorfs retired to Bethany Beach, Del., in 1987, after their 12th child graduated from Catholic University of America. The couple joined St. Ann’s Catholic Church and enjoyed traveling and hosting visitors. He enjoyed playing golf as a young man and enjoyed the sport again in Bethany. He was proud to pay taxes and not receive government support for his family. Middendorf was remembered as an example of faith, charity, patriotism and familial love.

Middendorf is survived by his wife, Marian Hannon; 12 children, Sue, Barbara Prince and her husband, Fred, Bill Jr. and his wife, Ellen, Michael, Peg Libecap and her husband, Bill, Joan, Patti, Nancy Erhart and her husband, Paul, Anne Bologna, Tim, Julia and John and his wife, Lisa; 18 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many beloved family and friends.