Wilmer "Bill" Leitzel Shirk
Yet, another of our greatest generation has left us for a better place. He was born into some of the hardest times and grew up through the depression years.
Bill or known to others as Uncle Sonny was born on November 5, 1921 in Richfield, PA to the late John and Stella Leitzel Shirk.
He was raised on his parent's farm with his brothers and sisters. He worked on the farm until the age of 14 when he began working for several saw mills for a wage of .35 cents per hour.
A Veteran of WW II, he was drafted into the United States Army in 1942. and was transported to France on the Queen Mary with 18,000 other soldiers. During his time in Europe, he did recon work for the 7th and 3rd Army.
In 1946 after being discharged from the Army, he returned to Pittsburgh and married Mary Alice Christian who he had met while stationed there. They remained in Western Pennsylvania in Warrendale.
He worked in several positions from a Game Commissioner to farming, working with machinery to finally as a auto mechanic for Rush Motors and Chuck Smith Ford, retiring in 1987 with over 25 years of service.
He enjoyed Golf, Bowling, the Zelienople Horseshoe League, playing cards and domino's. Bill was a member of American Legion Post 474, Zelienople and the Harmony L.O.O.M. 957.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Alice Christian, February 22, 1985; one sister, Miriam; and two brothers, Donald and Alvin.
He is survived by his daughter, Sharyn (Alan) Breitenbach of Harmony; three sisters, Eunice Auker of Richfield, Naomi Shellenberger of Palmyra, and LaFerne Keller of Bucks Co.; one brother Stanley (LaDonna) Shirk of Richfield; two grandchildren, Julie (Jayson Bankert) Breitenbach of Fombell and Jesse (Christine) Breitenbach of Evans City; two great grandsons, Nathan and Aaron Breitenbach; and a number of nieces and nephews.
The family of Wilmer L. Shirk who died on November 22, 2015 will welcome friends from 1-3 and 6-8 P.M.Tuesday at the A. Carl Kinsey-Ronald N. Volz Funeral Home, 114 W. Spring St. Zelienople, PA. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday November 25, 2015 from the funeral home at 10:30 A.M. with full Military Honors.
The family has suggested memorial donations be made to the American Legion Post 474, Zelienople, PA. 16063 or to the Butler VNA Inpatient Hospice, 115 Technology Dr., Butler, PA 16001.
