Diana L. Bilheimer

Diana L. Bilheimer, 83, passed away on Friday, August 29 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Dr. David W. Bilheimer, by her side. They had recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary.

Born in New York City, Diane was the daughter of Leon Kloth (born in Belgium) and Wally Schiffner (born in Germany). She grew up in Hamilton Station, Long Island, and graduated from Walt Whitman High School.

Diane attended Muhlenberg College, earning a degree in Liberal Arts with an emphasis in economics. After graduation, she worked as a fashion buyer for major department stores in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, DC. She resided in Buckingham since 1996 after living in various communities across the United States, including Cambridge, Massachusetts, Bethesda, Maryland, and Dallas, Texas.

Diane was deeply involved in the Central Bucks community, most notably with the Bucks County Symphony Orchestra, of which she was board president from 2011-2014, and the Heritage Conservancy, serving on or chairing the Christmas at Aldie Committee for more than 20 years. She was a devoted supporter of the Lenape Chamber Ensemble, participating on the Summer Advisory Committee. She and David were members of the Delaware Valley Music Club, and together regularly attended concerts of the Concordia Chamber Ensemble. Diane delighted in her many years as a member of the Mercer Mile Questers of Doylestown.

Described by her friends as practical, creative, and highly organized, Diane was in her element arranging business trips for David and joint trips to numerous destinations in Europe, which included France, England, Spain, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and Switzerland. A highlight for the Bilheimers was a trip to the Nobel Prize ceremonies in Stockholm, Sweden in 1985, when David was on the clinical research team for Drs. Joseph L. Goldstein and Michael S. Brown, winners of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Diane had a profound appreciation for art across a broad range of media, but especially paintings. She was particularly enamored with Native American artwork, and traveled numerous times to New Mexico in addition to exploring the art museums of the Dallas area.

Diane was known for her love of cooking and always enjoyed trying out new recipes. She was considered an outstanding cook, and excelled in setting a lovely table for elegant dinners and holiday feasts. She was a gracious hostess whether the affair was a formal dinner party or a backyard barbeque. Scores of friends and neighbors will warmly recall that beef tenderloin was her signature dish!

While living in Dallas, Diane and David were members of the Brookhaven Country Club, where Diane was a regular on the tennis courts. She was a dedicated member of the Faculty Wives Club at the University of Texas Health Science Center, where her husband was a professor. She served terms as president of the club, and was active in planning a variety of memorable events to provide a sense of community for the students and staff at the Center.

Diane was an avid nature lover, doting over her garden, flowers, trees, and plants. She and David put out food for the birds every winter and enjoyed observing all the wildlife that passed through their yard, often sending photos and notes to friends about the deer, squirrels, and foxes that they saw through the kitchen window. Together, they enjoyed visiting National Parks and taking trips to areas of natural beauty. Their love for animals was most evident during many years of caring for their beloved cats, D'Artagnan and Peaches.

Memorial contributions in Diane’s name may be sent to Bucks County Symphony Orchestra, P.O. Box 500, Doylestown, PA 18901 or to Heritage Conservancy, 85 Old Dublin Pike, Doylestown, PA 18901.