William Charles "Bill" McKinnis Sr., 79, of Fontana Street, Meridian, died at 9:40 a.m. Wednesday at Good Samaritan Hospice at Concordia after a long illness.

Born in Meridian, Dec. 20, 1928, he was the son of Walter H. and Catherine Elizabeth Datt McKinnis.

He was a 1946 graduate of Butler High School. He was a member of Local 500 of the Carpenters Union and was employed by several contractors, including Kenneth McKinnis and C.T. Dumbaugh.

Mr. McKinnis was a member of the Community Alliance Church.

He is survived by his wife, Wanda Y. Youkers, who he married Aug. 12, 1949; three sons, William C. McKinnis Jr. and his wife, Sandra, of Eagle River, Alaska, James A. McKinnis and his wife, Lisa, of West Sunbury and Douglas L. McKinnis and his wife, Wendy, of Wasilla, Alaska; a daughter, Cindy J. McKinnis of Jefferson Hills, Allegheny County; 11 grandchildren, Scott and Brian of Eagle River, Seth, Micah, Kenton, Psalm and Wynn of Wasilla and Maggie, Rita, Michael and Evangelene of West Sunbury; a sister, Harriet Caldwell of Zelienople; and a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Kenneth and Russell McKinnis, and two sisters, Alice Schwalm and Velma Mink.

<B>MCKINNIS</B> — Visitation and funeral services for William Charles "Bill" McKinnis Sr., who died Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008, will be private. Burial will be at Butler County Memorial Park.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Great Commission Fund (Missionary Fund) of Community Alliance Church or to the Good Samaritan Hospice, 3500 Brooktree Road, Suite 320, Wexford, PA 15090.Arrangements are being handled by <B>Thompson-Miller Funeral Home</B> and are available at www.thompson-miller.com.