William T. Straessley, 78, of Fombell died at 6:02 Saturday at Beaver Valley Medical Center.

Born Jan. 23, 1927, in Cranberry Township, he was the son of Henry C. Sr. and Agnes R. Rogers Straessley.

He attended Evans City High School, and was a World War II Navy veteran.

He was a heavy equipment operator with the operating Engineers Local 66 out of Pittsburgh for 40 years, retiring in 1986.

He was a member of the Moose 393 where he served as governor for 10 years. He was also a Pilgrim of the Moose and had served as state president of the Moose.

Surviving are his wife, Nancy Sokloski Straessley, whom he married April 16, 1955; one daughter and her husband, Joni and Edward J. Meiter of North Sewickley Township; three sisters, Cecelia Gaiser of Bellaire, Lillian Fischer of Cranberry Township, and Mary Clair and Andrew Hack, both of Cranberry Township; and two grandchildren, Braden and Brittany Meiter.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and three brothers, Henry C., Clarence M., and S. Rogers Straessley.

STRAESSLEY - Friends of William T. Straessley, who died Saturday, Feb. 12, 2005, will be received from 2 to 4 and from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the SAMUEL TEOLIS FUNERAL HOME, 309 Spring Ave., Ellwood City. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Agatha Church with Rev. Mauro J. Cautela as celebrant. Those attending the mass are asked to meet at the funeral home at 9:20 a.m. as the procession to the church will leave at 9:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Locust Grove Cemetery.A vigil will be at 3:45 p.m. today at the funeral home.Members of the Moose are asked to meet at the funeral home at 7:45 p.m. today to conduct a service.Members of the veterans honor guard are asked to meet at the funeral home at 9:10 a.m. Tuesday to conduct full military rites.