William H. Bolden III, 76, of Whitehall, died May 6, 2019, at Whitehall Manor.

Born in Washington D.C., he was a son of the late William H. Jr. and Marion Florence (Lamothe) Bolden.

He was in the U.S. Army.

He was a police officer in Philadelphia and later with the Pennsylvania State Police for 25 years, most of the time as a corporal, before retiring in 1996. He worked out of about eight barracks, including Fogelsville, Dublin and what is now called Belfast.

The Bolden v. the Pennsylvania State Police lawsuit, resulting in the Bolden Decree, gave minorities more opportunities to be accepted into the state police. Before the filing, approximately 60 minority troopers were employed by the state. Shortly after the lawsuit, the number rose to more than 550 minorities employed by the state.

He was a member of the Cathedral Church of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown, where he sang in the choir for many years.

He was a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus.

He is survived by a daughter, Natasha E. Bolden and a grandson, Quinn W. Campion, both of Bernville; and four brothers and two sisters, all of Philadelphia.

There will be a memorial service at a later date.

Contributions to help defray funeral costs may be made to Miller Funeral Home Inc., 137 Fairview St., Lehighton, 18235.

Arrangements were made by Schisler Funeral Home Inc., Northampton,