Wilbur W. Blakely, Ed.D., 66, a psychologist and Presbyterian minister, died Sunday at his home in Warminster.
Dr. Blakely was the founding pastor of Calvary Presbyterian Church in Willow Grove. From 1982 to 1992, he was an adjunct associate professor in counseling psychology at Temple University.
Born in Castana, Iowa, Dr. Blakely was a graduate of Mapleton High School in Mapleton, Iowa. He received his bachelor's degree in 1949 at Macalester
College in St. Paul, Minn. In 1955 he graduated from Faith Seminary in Elkins Park, and in 1957 he received a master's degree in theology at Westminster
Seminary in Philadelphia.
He then built the Calvary Presbyterian Church and served as its pastor for 14 years before entering college again in 1970.
In 1971, he received his master's degree in education at Temple University. In 1974, he received his doctorate in education.
He was a former psychologist at the Delaware Valley Mental Health Foundation and former assistant director of psychological services at Bucks County Prison.
In 1978, he began private practice in Southampton. He also provided service to the Huntingdon Valley Counseling Services and the Bensalem Family Health Center.
He retired in May.
Dr. Blakely served in the Army during the Korean War.
He was a member of the American Psychological Association, the National Register of Health Care Providers in Psychology, and the Cremation Society of Pennsylvania.
He is survived by his wife, Avis Simmons Blakely; sons, Philip and James; daughters, Mary Forney, Deborah Donahue and Rebecca Estrada; one brother; and seven grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Calvary Presbyterian Church, 405 N. Easton Road, Willow Grove.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society.
