William (Bill) F. Kearns, Sr.

Longtime mechanic, former Hopewell Twp. supervisor. William (Bill) F. Kearns Sr., 83, of Avella, died Wednesday, February 21, 2007, in Cherry Tree Assisted Living, The George Washington in Washington, where he had resided for the past 26 months. He was born November 27, 1923, in Washington County, a son of George Gold and Bessie Williams Kearns. Mr. Kearns was a member of Western Pennsylvania Teamsters and served as former vice-chairman for Hopewell Township Board of Supervisors. His career as a mechanic began at Danley's Garage in Buffalo Village; he then was employed by Washington City Bus Co., White Star Bus Line and Blue Ridge Bus Co. For more than 20 years, he was employed as a diesel mechanic for Beatty Motor Express, which was sold to Womeldorf Trucking Co., where he remained until he retired. Mr. Kearns had many loves including children, farming, family reunions, and foremost, Geraldine, his wife of 59 years. On August 28, 1948, he married Geraldine Dillie, who survives. Also surviving are a daughter, Gloria Lesnock and Frank of Washington; a son, Kenneth Kearns and Becky of Avella; a stepdaughter, Janet Hines Durila; six grandchildren, Todd, Shawn, Benjamin, Nathan and Justin Kearns and Nicolette Shriver; two stepgrandchildren, Jim Durila Jr. and Lisa Wicks; five great-grandchildren, Jessie and Dillon Kearns and Mattalyn, Aspin and Penelope Shriver; seven stepgreat-grandchildren, John, David, Tenesha and J.D. Durila, Destiny Wicks and Shelby and J.D. Barnes; two sisters, Hazel Woods of Washington and Betty Leech of Prosperity; and a brother, Jim Kearns of Avella. Deceased are a son, William G. Kearns Jr., who died December 12, 1978; a brother, George Earl Kearns, who died November 1, 2006; and a sister, Mary Elizabeth Kearns, who died at birth. Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 24, with Pastors Michael Roach and David Dillie officiating. Interment will be in Forest Lawn Gardens, McMurray.