Plants

William R. Plants Jr., 81, of Freeport died Thursday at his home surrounded by family.

He was born Jan. 22, 1927, in Freeport, to William Ray Plants Sr. and Nellie Milliken Plants.

William was a 1944 graduate of Freeport High School, and he continued his education at the Coynes Electrical School in Chicago.

He was employed by Allegheny Ludlum as a member of the line gang from 1946 to 1956. Then he was employed by the Alcoa Research Laboratory, as an instrument technician, where he worked for 35 years until retiring in 1991.

He was a member of the Zion United Methodist Church in Buffalo Township and enjoyed spending time with his family and sharing the lessons of the Lord with those around him. William was the treasurer for the Presbytery, Silver Saints Leader at Evangel Heights and treasurer of the Full Gospel Business Men, all of which he served for years. Additionally, William was a Sunday school teacher at different churches throughout most of his life.

A veteran of the U.S. Army, William served his country in Japan during World War II. William was a faithful and devoted member of the Freeport Kiwanis Club for more than 30 years, where he served as the "Pink Sheet" editor and was the current treasurer. His other memberships include the Freeport Veterans of Foreign Wars, the former Freeport American Legion, the Saxonburg American Legion and the Alcoa Retiree's Club. William also was a member of the MORA Bowling Club, a past Boy Scout leader in Freeport and was treasurer of the Buffalo Senior Citizens Group, where he served as the bus tour leader.

He is survived by his wife, Theoris E. Howard Plants, who he married Sept. 10, 1949; a son, Kenneth Plants and his wife, Annette, of Pana, Ill.; three daughters, Judy Beale of Kennesaw, Ga., Joyce Napierkowski and her husband, Glenn, and Carol Stiller, all of Freeport; 15 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a daughter-in-law, Mary Plants of Temple.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, James H. "Jim" Plants, who died May 1, 2008; a daughter, Nancy Jean Plants; a grandson, Philip Beale Jr.; and his sister, Dorothy Lewis.

<B>PLANTS —</B> Friends of William R. Plants Jr., who died Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008, will be received from 1 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the <B>DENNNIS J. DAUGHERTY FUNERAL HOME,</B> 324 Fourth St., Freeport. The Freeport Kiwanis Club will have a memorial services at 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Funeral and committal services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Zion United Methodist Church, 438 Bear Creek Road, Buffalo Township, with the Rev. Howard Greenfield, pastor, officiating. Full military honors will follow the committal service at the church. Private burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Park, Lower Burrell, Westmoreland County.Memorial contributions may be to the Freeport Kiwanis Club, Freeport Area Park Project Fund, P.O. Box 183, Freeport, PA 16229.