William Edward Myers, aged 90, died peacefully at his home in Grand Rapids on Monday, February 16, 2015. The sixth of seven children of Bert Myers and Veronica (Flynn) Myers, William Edward was born in Lowell on January 26, 1925. He graduated from Lowell High School in 1942. In March 1943, having finished two terms at Michigan State University, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy.
He trained as a signalman, specializing in semaphore and Morse code signaling, before being assigned to a “Liberty Ship,” the Florence Crittenton. Mr. Myers served on seven wartime crossings of the Atlantic Ocean, transporting troops and supplies to England. He also served on D-Day, transporting troops for the invasion of Normandy, making four trips to Omaha Beach and three to Utah, before continuing his service in Italy and India.
Mr. Myers was honorably discharged in May 1946, at which time he resumed his studies at Michigan State. He graduated with a Bachelors in Business degree in 1949. The Fisher Body Division of General Motors then hired him, and he worked for GM throughout the United States and in Spain until his retirement in 1986, when he returned home to Parnell, Michigan.
Mr. Myers was a devoted parishioner of St. Patrick’s Church in Parnell, serving for 10 years on the Finance Committee as well as in other volunteer positions.
He is survived by his wife, Ellan Goodell Myers; his children: Neal (Diane Bender) Myers, Paul Myers, Therese (Tim) Bliese, Jack (Nylce) Myers, and Peter (Patrick Wojtak) Myers; grandchildren: Lenna Myers (Andy) Keri, Matthew Bliese, and David (Michelle) Bliese; and 3 great-grandsons: Maxton Keri, Owen and Evan Bliese. Also surviving are his sister, Flora Bishop; sister-in-law, Doris Canfield; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Roy; and his sisters, Ethel VanDerWarf, Margaret Eickhoff, Evelyn Roudabush, and Elizabeth Stukkie.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, February 20, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 4351 Parnell NE in Ada. Father Mark Peacock presiding. Visitation will be on Thursday, February 19, from 6-8:00 p.m. at Roth-Gerst Chapel, 305 N. Hudson in Lowell. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the St. Patrick Educational Fund (4351 Parnell NE, Ada, MI 49301) or Marywood Health Center (111 Lakeside Drive, Grand Rapids, MI 49503).