William P. Ekis

William P. “Bill” Ekis, 83, of Center Drive, Chicora, Oakland Twp., a devoted father, grandfather, great grandfather, and brother, was greeted by the rejoicing angels at Heaven’s gate and was reunited with his beloved wife on Friday afternoon, December 6, 2019, passing away unexpectedly of natural causes at his home.

William was born on July 30, 1936 in West Sunbury.  He was the son of the late Joseph and Margaret McGregor Ekis.

He was a 1954 graduate of West Sunbury High School.  Bill had attended Zion Lutheran Church in Chicora.  Bill retired in 1998 after nearly 30 years of service at Armco in Butler.  Bill enjoyed the simple life of hunting, fishing, camping, and most especially the company of his grandkids and great grandkids.  He was an avid tractor enthusiast, having owned several makes and models, his favorite of which was his John Deere.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Eleanor M. Moore Ekis, whom he married at Zion Lutheran Church on August 25, 1956.  Mrs. Ekis passed away on February 2, 2013.

Bill is survived by four children, Douglas W. Ekis and his wife, Cheryl, of Chicora, Deborah L. McCune and her husband, Charles, Daniel J. “Boone” Ekis and his wife, Cindy, and Darrin J. Ekis and his wife, Beth, all of Karns City; ten grandchildren, Dana Willis and her husband, John, of Chicora, David Ekis and his wife, Summer, of Butler, Derek Ekis, Devin Ekis and his wife, Lauren, Tricia Bryan and her fiancé, Rich Miller, all of Chicora, Krystal Hillard and her husband, Jared, of Hilliards, D.J. Ekis and his wife, Maureen, of Newbury, OH, Shalisa Ekis and her boyfriend, Brice Musgrave, of Home, and Trevor Ekis and Taylor Ekis of Karns City; ten great grandchildren, Lilly, Isabella, Teagan, Emery, Caison, Alexa, Axel, Nora, Maverick, Dominic; three sisters, Ruth Palmer of Grove City, Doris Namesnik of Brunswick, OH, Patricia “Patty” Snyder of Butler, as well as a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to his wife and parents, Bill was preceded in death by a great granddaughter, Molly Mae Bryan.

Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home of Chicora, 339 Chicora Fenelton Rd., Chicora, from 1- 3 and 6 – 9 p.m. Tuesday and on Wednesday from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. A funeral service will follow from the funeral home at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. Kathy Davis, pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Kittanning, officiating.  Interment will be at Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery, Chicora.  Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org. or the East Butler Ambulance Service, PO Box 162, East Butler, PA 16029.  For additional information or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.

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