William Robert 'Skip' Metz
William Robert “Skip” Metz, 84, of Harmony passed away Tuesday while in the comfort of his home.
He was born May 13, 1928, in Etna, Pa., and was the son of the late Ralph M. and Dora E. (Schott) Metz.
He was a Protestant and was a former member of the Grace Church of Harmony.
During Skip's time in high school, he secured a worker's permit for summer help and was later hired by the Tru-Flo Fan Co. of Harmony where he built a career and remained for 16 years. In 1963, he transferred to the Herman Corp. of Zelienople where he served another 31 years. Upon Skip's retirement, he held the title of supervisor of production control and had attained the “Atta-Boy Award.”
He also worked to obtain a Pennsylvania State Projectionist License, which allowed him to operate the cameras for the Strand Theatre of Zelienople from 1951 to 1956. In 1957, Skip leased the theater under article of agreement to own and had Sunday movies voted in, a first for Zelienople. He continued to manage the theater for another 10 years until 1967. Throughout this time, Skip was an active member of the Zelienople Lions Club. In his youth, he was also very active in the Harmony Volunteer Fire Company, reaching the rank of first assistant chief.
Skip was an avid hunter, trout fisherman and owned two hunting camps near Smethport, Pa. He was a member of the Evans City Sportsman Club as well as the NRA. Skip also enjoyed square dancing and had previously held the position of president for the Keystone Squares, a former dance club in Butler.
Skip was a proud U.S. Navy World War II veteran. Enlisting at the age of 17, he served with the North Atlantic Third Fleet and was awarded the European Theatre Ribbon. He belonged to the Zelienople Post 5474 of the American Legion and the Zelienople Hungarian Beneficial Society.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his daughter, Barbara Rae Dally and her husband, Dayne, of Evans City; his son, Scott W. Metz of Harmony; his three grandchildren, Bryan Dally and his wife, Stephanie, of Evans City, Brad Dally and his wife, Melissa, of Lock Haven and Kara Patton and her husband, Nate, of Fort Riley, Kan.; and four great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, Skip was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 58 years, Ruth-Ann, and one brother, Ralph “Homer” Metz.
Skip always said, “When your time comes, just quietly tip your hat and go out the door.”
METZ — Services and interment for William Robert “Skip” Metz, who passed away Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013, will be held privately by Skip's family at the Grace Church Cemetery of Harmony.Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Boylan Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 324 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople.Online condolences and directions are at www.boylanfuneralhome.com
