Obituary - William
Frederick ‘Bill’ English
William Frederick “Bill” English, 91, of 123 Oak St., Henry’s Bend, Oil City, died at 2:15 a.m. Saturday, July 21, 2007, in his home after an extended illness.
Mr. English was provided exceptional care at his home by his daughter, Susan, with assistance from his other daughters, Diane and Nancy.
Born May 5, 1916, in Oil City, he was the son of Leo J. and Alice Seyboldt English.
Mr. English was a 1934 graduate of Oil City High School.
He was a World War II veteran, serving as a Navy seaman first class in the Fleet Post Office at Sampson, N.Y.
Mr. English received certification in advanced millwork drawing and blueprint reading from Penn State night school while working at the National Transit. He also was briefly employed by the Keystone Public Service Co., now known as Penelec. He retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 1974 after 35 years of service.
His retirement years enabled him to manage the English Pool Center and to travel to Florida in the winter months.
Mr. English was a well-known musician. He was vice president of the American Federation of Music for 15 years and was a charter member of the National Association of Rudimental Drummers. He taught drum lessons and played with the Florida Symphony, as well as professional celebrity drummers from 1934 to 1980.
He was active in Oil City music circles, playing with the American Legion, Mostly Brass and the Carl Brozeski Band.
Mr. English was a member of St. Stephen Church, the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree, Eagles, Elks, Moose, Fryburg Lucky Twirlers Dance Club, Isaac Walton, National Association of Letter Carriers and the Fryburg Sportsman Club.
He was married to the former Arlene C. Eisenman, who preceded him in death Feb. 25, 2003. They were married for 63 years.
Surviving are six children, William and CC English of Derwood, Md., Diane Turner and Susan English, both of Henry’s Bend, Nancy and Dwight Guth of Franklin, Stephen and Patti English of Bel Air, Md., and Tommy English of Franklin
He was proud of his large family of 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He spent time fishing, hunting and enjoying many other outdoor activities with them during his fulfilling and blessed life.
He also is survived by two brothers, Robert and Richard English, both of Oil City.
In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. English was preceded in death by a son, the Rev. Robert English; and two brothers, Joe and Leo English.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the Reinsel Funeral Home, Oil City.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday in St. Stephen Church with Msgr. William C. Karg presiding.
Internment, with full military honors provided by the V.E.T.S. Honor Guard, will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Oil City, where he will be interred along side his wife whom he referred to as “His Beauty Queen, Arlene.”
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mostly Brass Band of Oil City, Easter Seals of Western Pennsylvania, to any veteran’s organization or to the Henry’s Bend Chapel Association.
Condolences may be sent at www.reinselfuneralhome.com