Russell Conwell Goudy, Sr.

Russell Conwell Goudy, Sr. Born July 11, 1930, passed away last Sunday March 15th at his home in Gwynedd. Best known as the owner of Wm. A. Kilian Hardware Co., he greeted and helped many customers from Chestnut Hill and the surrounding communities. Russ could find anything among the tens of thousands of items in the store, always with a smile for his customers and a good story to tell them. Kilian’s was founded in 1913 and is the oldest hardware store in Philadelphia. His aunt Minnie Goudy Kilian left the store to her brother John Nelson in 1945 and subsequently to Russ and his brother Nelson in the 1950’s. Until recently three generations of the family worked together, Russ, his son Russell and his three children. He was named for his uncle Russell C. Goudy and for Russell H. Conwell, founder of the Baptist Temple, Temple University and Temple Hospital. Conwell also married his parents. Russ was born in Olney and moved to Chestnut Hill when he was 8 years old. He attended John Story Jenks School and later rode his bike to Springfield High School where he played football and was president of his senior class. From 1948-1960 he served in the Navy Reserves in Willow Grove as a Navy Aviation mechanic 2nd Class. He married Rebecca Shallcross Scull Goudy more than 59 years ago in her native Ocean City, NJ, where they had met one summer. They enjoyed working together and traveling to a second home in Rock Hall, Maryland. Russ spoke fondly of his summers at Temple Camp in Collegeville first as a camper and later as a counselor. In later years he could be seen driving his beloved antique cars which he restored, winning many trophies in car shows. He is survived by his wife Rebecca, son Russell Jr. (Hope McNelis) who had previously taken over Kilian’s and three children, Finola, Noelle and Rowan, son Keith (Shelby Hoult) and children Oakley and Van (Chicago, IL), predeceased by his son Rob (Teana Slater) (Altmar, NY), predeceased by his brother Nelson and sister-in-law Jean and survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins. A celebration of life will be planned for the future. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cold Point Baptist Church, 5063 Militia Hill Road, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462.