William J. 'Bill' Gilroy

William J. “Bill” Gilroy, 83, of Perry Highway, Meadville, died Tuesday, April 29, 2003 at the Crawford County Care Center.

He was born August 16, 1919 in Sharpsburg a son of the late William and Alma Kitzki Gilroy.  He married Rosilia Cira and she preceded him in death in 1967.  He subsequently married Lena Dersch April 21, 1979.

He worked at the A&P Store in Etna, then as an assistant manager at the A&P Store in Linesville.  He became the owner and operator of American Service Station in Conneaut Lake and then as the owner and operator of the Ashland Service Station in Linesville.  He subsequently worked at Boyer Rental in Erie and then retired in 1984 from the auto service department of Montgomery Wards in Meadville.  In his retirement he worked at the Meadville Senior Center and for Automatic Vendors as a service technician.

He was a graduate of Aspinwall High School, Aspinwall and was a veteran of World War II with the US Army Air Corps.  He was a member of Lake Lutheran Church, Conneaut Lake and he enjoyed gardening, fishing and especially being with his family.

Survivors, in addition to his wife of 24 years, include a son and three daughters.  He was preceded in death by an infant son, William Gilroy and a brother, James E. Gilroy.

Calling hours will be Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Waid-Coleman Funeral Home, 12422 Conneaut Lake Road, Conneaut Lake.

The funeral service will be Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. David McIlvried, Pastor of Lake Lutheran Church officiating.

Burial will be in St. Philip Cemetery, Linesville with full military honors provided by Veterans of Foreign Wars Harm Jan Huidekoper Post #2006, Meadville.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Lake Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 549, Conneaut Lake, PA 16316 or the American Cancer Society, Crawford Unit, 464 Pine Street, Meadville, PA 16335.