WILLIAM R. SILLS, SR.
HARTFORD CITY, IN
William R. Sills, Sr., 86, died Thursday morning, April 2, in Blackford Community Hospital Emergency Room.
A native and life resident of Blackford County, he was born March 11, 1923 to Floyd and Lucille (Rhine) Sills. A 1941 graduate of Hartford City High School, he was an Army Air Corps veteran of WWII, assigned to the 8th Air Force, 389th Bomb Group, 565th Squadron, stationed at Hethel, England, as an engineer-gunner on a B-24. He participated in 33 combat missions over Germany and occupied territory, and acquired the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters.
He married Margaret Bowen on January 11, 1945 in Hartford City. She preceded him in death on June 13, 2007.
Mr. Sills had been employed at 3-M Company for 26 years, retiring April 1, 1988.
Bill was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, a member and past Grand Knight of the Emil A. Schweier Council #1639 Knights of Columbus, American Legion Post #159, the 3-M Retirees Club and was active with the 389th Bomb Group Association.
Surviving are: 5 sons; William R. (Belinda) Sills, II, Elletsville, IN, Stephen J. (Diane) Sills and Gregory V. (Deidre) Sills, both of Sellersburg, Anthony M. Sills, Lansing, MI, Christopher M. (Deborah) Sills, Hartford City; 2 daughters, M. Suzanne (Thomas) Christle and Amy A. (Dennis) Fisher, both of Fort Wayne; 18 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Catherine Creager.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Dave Newton at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 7, 2009, in St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 209 S. Spring St., Hartford City. Burial will be made in the Hartford City Cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by American Legion Post #159 Color Guard and Firing Squad.
Friends may call at the Waters Funeral Home, 501 W. Washington St., Hartford City from 3-5 and 6-8 p.m. Monday and 9-10:30 a.m. Tuesday. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 7 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.
Memorials may be in the form of masses to the church.
Pallbearers will be: William Sills, III, Ryan Sills, Sean Sills, Timothy Christle, Thomas Christle II, Thadeus Christle, Theodore Christle, Michael Sills, Dennis Fisher and Nathaniel Fisher.
