Hetrick

William Edwin Hetrick, 60, of McMinnville, Tenn., entered eternal rest on Sept. 10 after a long battle with cancer.

Born Nov. 15, 1945, in Butler, he was the son of the late William Parker Hetrick and Janet Katherine Hoyn Hetrick.

After graduating from Butler High School in 1963, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was assigned to the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and served one year on Marine barracks duty in Sasebo, Japan, and completed a tour of duty in Vietnam. He attained the rank of sergeant. Mr. Hetrick earned numerous medals, including a Purple Heart.

After completing his 4-year stint with the U.S.M.C. in 1967, he remained in touch with many of his Marine comrades until his death.

He was most proud to have served his nation and was true to the Marine Corps motto "Semper Fidelis", always faithful.

Mr. Hetrick was a graduate of Butler County Community College and the Dale Carnegie Course. His specialty was electronics engineering; and while in Butler, he worked at Armstrong Cable. He was relocated to North Lauderdale, Fla., where he established a cable television system for the city of North Lauderdale's entire viewing area. He also worked at a cable company in McMinnville, where he was district manager/engineer.

Mr. Hetrick was a Catholic.

He was an avid Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers fan and also enjoyed the New York Yankees since his childhood. His interests included military history, and he was an enthusiastic collector of Zippo lighters and collectible knives.

He will always be remembered for his unique personality and courageous spirit.

Surviving are two sons, U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. William E. Hetrick Jr. and his fiancee, Staff Sgt. Kelly Moorefield, both of Beaufort, S.C., and Kurt R. Hetrick of Butler; and a daughter, Sheila R. Simerly and her husband, Christopher, of McMinnville; and five grandchildren,·Skyler James Hetrick of Butler and Mary Katherine, Macey Claire, Kylie Alexis and Chase Alexander Simerly, all of McMinnville.

Two sisters, Sharon L. (Benjamin) Tucci of Butler and Noreen L. (Richard) Stevens of Boulder Creek, Calif.; nephews; nieces; great-nephews; aunts; cousins; and his former spouse, Dorothy J. Leard, also survive.

<B>HETRICK</B>— Funeral services for William Edwin Hetrick, who died Sunday, Sept. 10, 2006, were held in McMinnville. Burial followed at Shellsford Cemetery with military honors accorded by the U.S. Marine Corps Honor Guard.