William N. Sweet Jr., entrepreneur, golf enthusiast
William “Bill” N. Sweet Jr., 83, passed away peacefully surrounded by family Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at Maris Grove in Glen Mills, Pa. Bill was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Dec. 8, 1941, to William and Kathleen Sweet. He graduated from Palatine High School in Illinois in 1959 and from Bucknell University in 1963. He raised his family in Hockessin and retired in Rehoboth Beach.
Attending Bucknell University was a positive and influential time in Bill’s life. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and the Bucknell wrestling team. Bill credited the wrestling program with giving him the confidence, discipline, and skills he needed to be successful. He is in the Bucknell Wrestling Hall of Achievement and was a major supporter of the Bucknell wrestling program.
Bill was fortunate to have found a career that he loved. While working as an accountant in his early 30s, he had the opportunity to become a co-owner of a gas station. He took the risk and learned that he was meant to be an entrepreneur. After years of running numerous businesses, he partnered with two colleagues in 1997 to form Sweet Oil, which became a successful oil distributor. That partnership continued and was the springboard for other opportunities that made for an exciting and fulfilling career.
Golf was Bill’s passion. In his lifetime, he belonged to Cavaliers Country Club, Hercules/Delaware National Country Club, Vasari Country Club, King’s Creek Country Club, Rehoboth Beach Country Club, and he was a partner in the group that founded and developed Wild Quail Golf & Country Club. He loved the game and the camaraderie, and he was fortunate to spend his retirement playing with friends and family at RBCC.
Most of all, Bill loved his wife, April, and his children and grandchildren. He and April were happily married for 55 years. They enjoyed more than 20 years in Rehoboth Beach. Bill’s favorite days were in the summer, beginning early in the morning at Browseabout Books with a boisterous group of friends, followed by a round of golf in the sunshine, a Manhattan at RBCC men’s grill, dinner with April and friends at KCCC, and ending with card games and lots of laughter with family. He will be remembered for how he lit up a room and for how proud he was of his children and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, April; daughter, Kristine Volp and her husband Rich, of Wilmington; son, Douglas Sweet, of Berwyn, Pa.; son, Kevin Sweet and his wife Carie, of Rockland; and three granddaughters, Madeline, Macy and Zoey.
A private Celebration of Life for friends and family will be held in the coming weeks.
