William Corwin

William D. "Bill" Corwin, 83, of Waynesburg, Pa. and formerly of Oak Forest died Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 7:58 p.m. in the Rolling Meadows Nursing Home in Waynesburg after being in failing health for the past year. He was born February 20, 1925 in Waynesburg a son of Harold Thomas "Pete" Corwin and DeEtta June Guthrie Corwin King and had resided in the Oak Forest area from 1946 until moving to Waynesburg in 1986. Mr. Corwin was a member of the Rolling Meadows Church of God in Waynesburg. He attended Waynesburg High School where he was a Pa. State Wrestling Champion and continued his distinguished wrestling career at Waynesburg College and later was a wrestling coach at Brave elementary school. Mr. Corwin was a veteran of World War II where he served with the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Machinist's Mate 3/c and a boxer aboard the USS Midway, the first destroyer sank by the Japanese Kamikaze pilots and was awarded the Purple Heart, World War II Victory Medal, American Area and the Asiatic Pacific Medals with 3 stars and the Philippine Liberation Medal with 1 star. He was a member of the V.F.W. Post 4793, American Legion Post 330 both in Waynesburg, and a former member of the Waynesburg Moose Lodge and was also a member of the Waynesburg Senior Citizens. Mr. Corwin was an avid fisherman and enjoyed hunting and speed walking and also enjoyed the conversations with his friends at Yum Yum Donuts in Waynesburg. He was employed by International Union of Operating Engineers Local 66 as a heavy equipment operator for 40 years prior to retiring in 1990. On January 3, 1945 he married Lana Edna Jane Waychoff who died February 13, 1986. Surviving are six sons, Charles W., husband of Jean Corwin of Waynesburg, Gary L., husband of Brenda Corwin of Archdale, N.C., Randy, husband of Vivian Corwin of Avella, David L. "Beep", husband of Suzy Corwin of Oak Forest, John E. "Jack" Corwin of Holbrook and Patrick J., husband of Christine Corwin of Carmichaels; two daughters, Diana Ankrom, wife of Keith Hillberry of West Finley and Bonnie Sue, wife of William Fisher of Waynesburg; one brother, Samuel, husband of Joyce King of Waynesburg; one sister, Joanna, wife of Louis Clark of Zionsville, IN.; 29 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; his very best friend of the past several years, Aldene Allman of Waynesburg. Deceased in addition to his wife and parents are a grandson, Timothy Ankrom; a great granddaughter, Tessa Renae Roe; a sister, Dorothy Emogene Wildman Burnsworth. Graveside military rites will be accorded by representatives of the U. S. Navy and the American Legion Post 330, V.F.W. Post 4793, and the D.A.V. Post 123 all of Waynesburg. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer Foundation or the American Diabetes Association.