William Harman Wills Jr.

William Harman Wills Jr.

William Harman Wills Jr., 95, beloved husband, father, uncle, grandfather, and friend died peacefully on October 10, 2018 at Brooks Memorial Hospital with his wife Barbara at his side.Born on July 24, 1923 in Dunkirk, New York, Bill was the oldest of three children born to William and Hazel Reed Wills Sr.Bill was a 1941 graduate of Dunkirk High School, where he lettered in track and field. After high school, he attended Cornell and Columbia on the US Navy V12 program and was awarded a commission on the USS Fargo, with tours in the Mediterranean and in South America. Upon completion of military service, Bill earned a Bachelor of Science in Metallurgy from Penn State University in 1947, lettering in track and field.Bill began his career in Western Pennsylvania as a Metallurgist for Babcock & Wilcox. He earned a Master of Business Administration at The University of Pittsburgh and served as President of the Beaver Valley Jaycees. Later, Bill joined Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation (later Al-Tech Specialty Steel) as a Metallurgist specializing in Tool Steel. Retiring in 1993 after 36 years of ser-vice, Bill was widely regarded as an expert in Tool Steel, and was very active in several professional societies, including American Iron and Steel Institute (Chairman of Tool Steel Committee), Association of Manufacturing Engineers, and the American Society of Testing and Materials.Bill was an active member of the First United Presbyterian church, serving on the Session and singing in the church choir. He was a member of the Free Masons and had served as Vice President on the Dunkirk School Board of Education.In his leisure time, Bill enjoyed athletics very much, especially running, swimming, tennis and kayaking. He also enjoyed history and music, particularly military marches, and sang in the Community Chorus, Catch Club, and in the local High Fever Follies Hospital Benefits. Above all Bill was a family man; nothing made him happier then following the exploits of his children and grandchildren.Bill is survived by his wife of 64 years Barbara, brother Walter Wills, Erie PA, sister Sara Johnson, Rochester New York, sons W. David Wills, Georgetown, TX (Teck Choo) and Peter Wills, Glenview, IL (Rebecca), and daughters Patricia Weigel, Falmouth, ME (Ben) and Katherine Wills, Yarmouth, ME, . William is also survived by grandsons Ben, Tyler, William, and Austin, along with granddaughters Sarah, Emma, Maggie, Caroline, and Lucy. William was pre-deceased by his son Robert Stafford Wills (Marty) and daughter Candace Wills Woolston (Jack).A Funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 13, 2018 11 a.m. at the Dunkirk First United Presbyterian Church, 19 West Fourth Street, Dunkirk, NY. Guests are invited to visit with the family at the Church one hour prior to the service. Arrangements are by the McGraw Kowal Funeral Home.