Fitzsimmons

William Richard Fitzsimmons, M.D., 91, of Butler died Monday at his home.

Born Jan. 16, 1916, in Zelie-nople, he was the son of Dr. David M. and Katie McClaren Fitzsimmons.

He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church.

After completing two years of premedical studies, he was accepted into the University of Pittsburgh Medical School and graduated in 1939 with a bachelor's degree and doctor of medicine degree. After a rotating internship at Mercy Hospital, he passed his state-board medical examination and was licensed in Pennsylvania.

He joined his father in general practice in Zelienople for several months, then volunteered for active duty with the Army Medical Corps and was assigned to Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington, D.C. In July of 1941, he was transferred to an engineering unit as the commanding officer of the base hospital in Greenland. At the completion of his tour of duty, he was transferred to McClusky General Hospital in Temple, Texas, where he remained until his discharge as a major in October 1946.

He resumed general practice with his father until July 1947 when he obtained a residency in OB/GYN at the Women's Hospital in Detroit. He later returned to Western Pennsylvania and opened an office in Butler in 1949, where he continued to practice until his retirement in 1983.

During this time, he was a member of Butler Memorial Hospital staff, serving in various capacities including chief of staff and chief of OB/GYN services.

Surviving are his wife, Patricia Ann Fitzsimmons; a daughter, Mrs. Frank (Jane Darrah) Wiseley of Butler; a son, Douglass M. Fitzsimmons and his wife, Victoria R., of Sewickley; two grandsons, P. Douglass and William Richard Fitzsimmons, both of Pittsburgh; a stepdaughter, Leanne Stepanian of Butler; two stepsons, Leo M. Stepanian II of Butler and Joshua L. Stepanian of Slippery Rock; two step-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Grace Stamets Fitzsimmons, who died April 19, 1980, and a sister, Catherine Mae Orr.

<B>FITZSIMMONS </B>— Friends of William Richard Fitzsimmons, M.D., who died Monday, July 2, 2007, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the <B>Young Funeral Home</B>, 127 W. Jefferson St. Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at the Trinity Lutheran Church with the Rev. Thomas Pierotti officiating. Burial will be private.Contributions may be made to the Guiding Eyes for the Blind Inc., 611 Granite Springs Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598Information also is available at www.youngfuneralhomes.com.