Lebanon County Commissioner William Ames dies at 81 of covid-19 complications

Lebanon County Commissioner William Ames, described by friends and colleagues as a good solid citizen and strong advocate for the county, died on Tuesday morning at Good Samaritan Hospital.

Ames, 81, was in his third four-year term as a county commissioner, serving alongside fellow Republican Robert Phillips and Democrat Jo Ellen Litz.

The Lebanon County Commissioners, in a news release, said Ames died of covid-19 complications. Ames had acknowledged being ill with the disease while attending a Dec. 16 commissioners meeting remotely.

The commissioners said Ames worked to “confront fiscal and social issues that challenge counties on a daily basis.

“His consistent approach was always to be a listener, to give thoughtful consideration, and to make fair decisions. He always gave his time and his ear to everyone, often offering to help their plight or cause in any way he could. His contributions and his presence will be greatly missed.”

Ames was among the elected officials statewide who fought against Gov. Tom Wolf’s covid-19 shutdown mandate in 2020. In May 2020 commissioners Ames and Phillips voted in support of a “protest resolution” against Wolf’s mandate ordering businesses closed to curb the spread of covid. That successful vote threatened federal CARES Act aid for the county.

Prior to his election as a county commissioner in 2011, Ames served as a South Londonderry Township supervisor.

A retired shop teacher in Derry Township School District, he and his wife, Josephine, ran Ames Sales and Services, a multi-service business, since 1987. They also were involved in numerous charitable organizations in the Lebanon Valley.

Ames, an active member of the Lebanon County Republican Party, was “known for his outspokenness and staunchly conservative views,” said party chairman Edward Lynch Jr.

“Bill was deeply devoted to making Lebanon County a better place for everyone who lived here, for that we all owe him our deepest gratitude and respect,” Lynch added.