William S. Titus, 87, of Massachusetts, formerly of Butler, passed away Aug. 13 surrounded by his family.

Bill was born on May 14, 1926, to the late Mary (Headland) and Frank C. Titus of Butler.

Bill graduated from Butler High School. After returning from the military, he attended Grove City College.

On Dec. 23, 1943, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was assigned to the 2518th AAF BU. He attended gunnery school in Fort Myers, Fla. He received the American Theater Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal and World War II Victory Ribbon. He was honorably discharged on June 12, 1944.

Bill re-enlisted on June 15, 1949 in the U.S. Air Force and attended flight training on the AT6 in Waco, Texas. He was deployed in the Korean War and stationed in Japan at Tachikawa base as part of the 13th Air Transport Support Unit.

After leaving the military on June 22 1953, Bill obtained a job with Eastern Air Lines where he flew as a commercial pilot for 35 years before retiring in 1988 as a captain. He was skilled to fly aircraft ranging from M404, L188 Electra, DC8, B727, and L1011.

Bill's interests included jogging, biking and the outdoors. He went camping with his family several times on Mount Desert Island and around the Finger Lakes in New York State. He enjoyed biking the carriage roads of Acadia National Park.

He was a member of the Butler Masonic Lodge, Rails-to-Trails and the Nature Conservancy.

He is survived by his wife, Lucille (Denton) Titus; a son, Robert H. Titus and his wife, Ilene, of Southborough, Mass.; two grandsons, Robert H. Titus Jr. and his wife, Lindsey, and Will Titus; his sister, Joan (Chew) Titus, and extended family, Kellie, Tim, Darin, Kim, Pat, Tyler and Jarrett.

Bill was predeceased by one son, William B. Titus.

TITUS — Calling hours for William S. Titus, who passed away Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013, will be at the Morris Funeral Home, 40 Main St., Southborough, Mass. at 4 p.m. Friday. A funeral home service will follow at 5 p.m. with military honors.Memorials in Bill's name may be given to any of the following: Rails-to-Trails, the Nature Conservancy, the Sierra Club or Alzheimer's research.For more information, go to morrisfuneralparlor.com.