Through gifts and purchases, Edward Webster said, the group owns a significant portion of land bordering Wissahickon Creek, from West Point to Chestnut Hill.
Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Webster graduated from Germantown Friends School in 1944 and earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1949 from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was president of the Zeta Psi fraternity.
His son said that World War II Navy flight training at the University of North Carolina and other colleges earned Mr. Webster credits toward his Penn degree, but he never served as a pilot.
Mr. Webster began his career with Moore Products of Springhouse, a manufacturer of industrial controls. He left in 1961 as national sales manager.
He took a similar position with the Brooks Instrument Division of Emerson Electric in Hatfield, and was its president from 1971 to 1985.
In 1986, he and sons Edward and Henry C. Jr. founded Webco Controls near Ambler, a representative for manufacturers of measurement devices. Mr. Webster retired in 2009 as chairman.
His son said that Mr. Webster was a founder in 1995 of the Wissahickon Birdathon, an annual bird count that is a fund-raiser for the watershed association.
Mr. Webster's photos of birds, his son said, are at the National Aquarium in Baltimore and the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia.
In addition to his sons, Mr. Webster is survived by his wife of 64 years, Elizabeth; daughters Jane Gray and Beth Purvis; a sister; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was set for 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at St. Thomas Church, Camp Hill Road near Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Burial is to be private.
Contact staff writer Walter F. Naedele at 215-854-5607 or wnaedele@phillynews.com.
