Meehan

Bill Meehan, aka “Billy,” aka “OooRah,” aka “Gunny,” of Butler, departed this life on Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at the Butler VA’s Sergeant Joseph George Kusick Community Living Center after a courageous nearly three decades long battle with service-related leukemia, lymphoma, head and neck cancer, skin cancer and related illnesses. He was 80 years old.

Bill's illness did not define him, however. His strength, courage and love of life did. It is always a difficult task to try and sum up a person and their life in a few columns in a newspaper, but, where Bill is concerned, it is close to impossible. Bill's life was just that unique, challenging and full.

Bill was born in Youngstown, Ohio, on Oct. 5, 1942. He was the son of the late William and Marjorie (Arris) Meehan and the oldest of four Meehan children.

Bill wanted to be a U.S. Marine from a young age. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps upon graduation from Butler High School in 1961. Bill served three tours in Vietnam on Force Recon teams. He also served as a Marine recruiter in the reserves.

During several years following Vietnam, Bill struggled with the disease of alcoholism, and, later, with cancers related to exposure to Agent Orange and to toxins in the water at Camp Lejeune. With the help of the friends he met in Alcoholics Anonymous, he celebrated 29 years of sobriety two weeks before he died. Bill faced adversity throughout his life with a positive attitude that inspired many. He never lost his goofy sense of humor. He loved fiercely, was fiercely loved, and will be forever missed.

Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Marianne Smith-Meehan; his brother, George “Spike” and his wife, Judy Meehan; his sister, Laurie Christy; his children, Shawn and her husband, Scott Mitchell, Shannon J. Meehan, Cortnie L. Watson and Joshua and his wife, Brittney Meehan; his stepchildren, Ryan Bock and his wife Stephanie, Sean Bock and his fiancée, Debarati Ghosh and Brennan T. Bock, of Butler.

He also is survived and blessed by nine grandchildren, Eric Mitchell and his fiancée', Shawnee Terrell, Heather Mitchell and her fiancé Chris America, Malik Watson, Maliah Watson, Maiya Watson, Blayke Meehan, Jaysa Meehan, Zoey Meehan, and Thea Bock; as well as three great-grandchildren, Dylan Mitchell, Aviana Mitchell and Layla Mitchell; as well as by many nieces and nephews, cousins and cherished friends.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his little sister, Susie Meehan.

MEEHAN — Family and friends of Bill Meehan, who died Tuesday, July 18, 2023, will be received from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023 at SPENCER D. GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, 140 New Castle Road, Butler. A Catholic blessing service and full military honors will follow immediately in the funeral home.

Donations in memory of Bill Meehan may be made to the following charities/organizations which directly enhanced Bill's life: Wounded Warrior Project, support.woundedwarriorproject.org, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, lls.org/ways-to-give, or National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), www.americanindian.si.edu

Please offer condolences at www.spencerdgeibel.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.