12 Oct 2008: Dr. Bernard S. Oldsey, 85, of West Chester, died Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008, at his home. He was the husband of the late Ann Re Oldsey, who died in 1994. Born in Wilkes-Barre, Bernard was a son of the late Frederick and Mary Moritz Oldsey. Bernard graduated from GAR Memorial High School in Wilkes-Barre and then attended Pennsylvania State University on an athletic scholarship for football and track. While at Penn State, he earned his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. His undergraduate education at Penn State was interrupted by World War II. He served in the U.S. Army Infantry during the war and was wounded in combat while in Italy. Bernard received several decorations during his military service, including the Purple Heart. After receiving his Ph.D. in English, Dr. Oldsey taught at Penn State for 25 years, specializing primarily in American literature. He moved from Penn State to West Chester University in 1969, where he was also a professor of English and was instrumental in establishing graduate degree programs there. While at West Chester, he also founded an academic journal, "College Literature," which is still in publication today. Bernard was a prolific writer and researcher who published more than 15 books during his career in academia, including two novels. His first novel, "The Spanish Season," was largely written while he taught at the University of Zargoza, Spain, where he was a visiting Fullbright professor. In addition to his novels, Bernard was known for his literary criticism, especially for research on the novels and short stories of Ernest Hemmingway. Bernard was an avid and accomplished skier, tennis player and golfer. He and his wife, Ann, were longtime members of the West Chester Golf and Country Club. He is survived by his children, William F. Oldsey and his wife, Julie Levin Alexander, of Basking Ridge, N.J., and Jan Oldsey-Zucker and Pascal R. Peron, of West Chester; a son-in-law, Kenneth H. Zucker, of Wayne; seven grandsons, Matthew, Michael, Zachary, Andrew, Jake, Alex and Gregory; and a brother, Gilbert Oldsey, of Freehold, N.J. In addition to his wife, he was pre-deceased by a brother, Joseph Oldsey, of Cleveland. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008, followed by the funeral service at 6 p.m., all to be held at DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home Inc., 410 N. Church St., West Chester. Interment will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct.15, 2008, in Centre County Memorial Park, State College. [Centre Daily]