William Walter “Bill” Steele, 81

January 3, 2011

William Walter “Bill” Steele, 81, Rochester Mills, passed away Friday, Dec. 31, 2010, at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh.

He was born Feb. 14, 1929, in North Mahoning Township, a son of the late Walter H. and Twilia M. (Hoover) Steele. He was raised in Titusville and was a graduate of Colestock High School.

Sept. 12, 1948, he married Mary E. (Gaffney) Steele, who preceded him in death.

After graduation, Mr. Steele’s family established a farm in the Grange area of Punxsutawney. During World War II, he was a Boy Scout and active on the Civil Patrol during the air raids, always supporting the troops any way he could and later working for the Titusville Milk Plant.

After his marriage to his wife Mary, Mr. Steele moved to Colorado Springs, Colo., and worked as a salesman for Continental Baking Company. Bill worked for Marhoefer’s as a route supervisor and then Clearview Farms where he was a sales representitive.

He loved traveling in his RV with his wife, camping and fishing. He always had a smile and was a friend to all. He loved his church families at the Grange Church of God and the First Church of God. He was “Uncle Bill” to everyone, and also the staff at Hillsdale Nursing Home.

Mr. Steele was a member of the Grange Church of God and attended the First Church of God.

Surviving relatives include a brother, James R. “Jim” Steele and wife Shirley of Wisconsin; a sister, T. Margaret “Peggy” Anthony and husband Clifford of Marchand, who was his caregiver for five years; nieces and nephews Sarah Rising and husband R. Joseph Rising, Timothy Anthony and wife Teresa, Edward Anthony and wife Diane, Barbara Means and husband Steve; a sister-in-law, Elaine M. Steele of Sprankle Mills; great-nieces and nephews Tina Mundy and husband David, Peggy Cribbs and husband Jason, Jolene and Alex Cribbs, Candi Benek and husband Ryan, Madison Wheeler and Kylie Benek, Tonya Hsiung and husband Danny, Jason Anthony and wife Brie, Baleigh Anthony, Josh and Kelly Pierce, Kyle Means and wife Melissa, Matthew Means, Scott Steele and wife Kimberly, Kyle Steele, Hannah Steele, Ashley Pavlak and husband Jason, Tobias Pavlak, K.J. Starr, Steven Steele and wife Karen, Cody Steele and many cousins.

In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Thomas Steele, who was killed Sept. 11, 1968, in action during Vietnam; and a brother, Charles R. Steele.

Friends were received from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, at the McCabe Funeral Home, Punxsutawney, where a funeral service was held at 1 p.m. with Pastor Janis Bracken officiating.

Interment followed at Perry Cemetery.