William D. “Bill” Saylor

May 18, 2016 Last Updated: May 18, 2016 12:00 PM Death Notice

William D. “Bill” Saylor, 71, of Village Mills, Texas, formerly of Parker Township and the Bruin area, passed away peacefully Feb. 1 at his home.

Bill was born April 17, 1944, in Butler, the eldest son of Daniel E. and Margiree A. (Texter) Saylor.

He graduated from Fairview Township-Karns City High School in 1962. He entered the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Plattsburgh Air Force Base in New York until his discharge in 1966.

Bill had a plan for his future early on to become a successful businessman. He succeeded in his endeavors, starting out as an auto mechanic and taking business classes at Butler County Community College and working his way to become the service manager at McDonalds Motors in Butler. Later, he moved on to Apollo Volkswagen near the Pittsburgh Airport.

He was always ready for a new adventure, so he drove to Alaska with his family and became the general manager of the Anchorage Volkswagen franchise. Bill opened up his own VW service department when the VW dealership owner retired and ceased business. He acquired the new Honda franchise in Anchorage and added American Motors/Jeep as well as Saab to his growing business.

All the while Bill pursued his love of flying, owning progressively more powerful airplanes and his own helicopter. Bill retired from his business at the age of 37. He always had a new challenge ahead of him and was not going to sit idly by and grow old. He had a sailing yacht built and enjoyed that until he move to Texas later in life. Living on a golf course kept him busy when he was not traveling in his motor home.

Bill is survived by his wife, Debbie Saylor of Village Mills, Texas; two daughters, Cathy Hayden of New Hampshire and Melinda Cribb of Georgia; his stepson, David Herring, who he raised, of Village Mills; his stepchildren, Michelle Neill of Spokane, Wash., Steven Lowe Jr. of Orange, Texas, and Michael Lowe of Red Oak, Texas.

Bill also is survived by two sisters, Joyce (Bill) Fair of Parker and Janice (Larry) Felix of Parker; two brothers, Jack (Nancy) Saylor of Bruin and Daniel (Sasiwan) Saylor of Lompoc, Calif.; and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins. He also leaves behind 11 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

SAYLOR — The ashes of William D. “Bill” Saylor, who died Monday, Feb. 1, 2016, will be spread on Crystal Beach in Galveston Island, Texas.A family gathering will take place in the early summer to honor Bill's life.