Wilmer “Bill” Shirk

Wilmer “Bill” Leitzel Shirk, 94, of Harmony passed away Sunday.

Yet another of our greatest generation has left us for a better place. He was born into some of the hardest times and grew up through the Great Depression years.

Bill or known to others as “Uncle Sonny” was born on Nov. 5, 1921, in Richfield, Pa., to the late John and Stella Leitzel Shirk.

He was raised on his parents' farm with his brothers and sisters. He worked on the farm until the age of 14, when he began working for several saw mills for a wage of 35 cents per hour.

A veteran of World War II, he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942 and was transported to France on the Queen Mary with 18,000 other soldiers. During his time in Europe, he did recon work for the 7th and 3rd Army.

In 1946 after being discharged from the Army, he returned to Pittsburgh and married Mary Alice Christian, who he had met while stationed there. They remained in Western Pennsylvania in Warrendale.

He worked in several positions from a game commissioner to farming, working with machinery to finally as an auto mechanic for Rush Motors and Chuck Smith Ford, retiring in 1987 with over 25 years of service.

He enjoyed golf, bowling, the Zelienople Horseshoe League, playing cards and dominoes. Bill was a member of the American Legion Post 474, Zelienople, and the Harmony L.O.O.M. 957.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Alice Christian, on Feb. 22, 1985; one sister, Miriam; and two brothers, Donald and Alvin.

He is survived by his daughter, Sharyn (Alan) Breitenbach of Harmony; three sisters, Eunice Auker of Richfield, Naomi Shellenberger of Palmyra and LaFerne Keller of Bucks, Colo.; one brother, Stanley (LaDonna) Shirk of Richfield; two grandchildren, Julie (Jayson Bankert) Breitenbach of Fombell and Jesse (Christine) Breitenbach of Evans City; two great-grandsons, Nathan and Aaron Breitenbach; and a number of nieces and nephews.

SHIRK — The family of Wilmer L. Shirk, who died Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015, will welcome friends from 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the A. Carl Kinsey-Ronald N. Volz Funeral Home, 114 W. Spring St., Zelienople.Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with full military honors.Memorial donations may be made to the American Legion Post 474, Zelienople or to the Butler VNA Inpatient Hospice, 115 Technology Dr., Butler PA 16001.