Bill Penrose, the owner of Oakdale Auto Body in Hatboro, PA, has retired after operating the business for 64 years, earning praise from the borough council and local residents for his lifelong contributions to the community.
Penrose, a U.S. Air Force veteran, opened Oakdale Auto Body in 1960 at 440 Oakdale Ave., at a time when only three auto body shops served the Hatboro area. Over the years, he became a fixture in the community -- not only repairing vehicles but also working on refrigerators, furniture and even municipal metal benches.
At a recent Hatboro Borough Council meeting, officials presented Penrose with a certificate of appreciation, honoring his “outstanding support of Hatboro residents, business owners and organizations.”
“Since 1960, he continued to impact lives within Hatboro and surrounding communities on a daily basis until he recently closed his shop and retired,” borough officials stated in the certificate presentation. “The Borough is extremely grateful for all of Bill's hard work in making Hatboro a better place to live, work and play, and we thank you for choosing Hatboro as your home for almost seven decades.”
Well known for his strong work ethic, Penrose reportedly only took one week off each year to enjoy fishing and hunting.
Oakdale Auto Body has now officially closed, marking the end of a legacy that spanned more than half a century in the Hatboro business community.
