William Thomas Beatty Sr.

William Thomas Beatty Sr., 79, of Volant, Pa., and Clearwater, Fla., formerly of Slippery Rock, passed away Sunday in Clearwater.

He was born in Slippery Rock on Sept. 27, 1934, to Frank Sedwick Beatty and Margaret Iona Steele Beatty.

He married Audrey Price Beatty on July 11, 2003. She survives at the home. He was previously married to Katharine Gates Beatty on Aug. 15, 1959. She preceded him in death on Oct. 24, 2001.

He graduated from Slippery Rock High School in 1952 and from Slippery Rock State Teachers College in 1956 and went on to earn two master's degrees.

He went to the military after college and retired as a full colonel of the Army Reserve.

He was a high school administrator and a member of the Slippery Rock United Methodist Church.

He started the football program at Slippery Rock High School and was the first high school football coach there. He organized the first midget football program. He was an outstanding basketball player in his youth and was an inductee to the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame, the Slippery Rock University Sports Hall of Fame and the Slippery Rock High School Sports Hall of Fame.

He was a member and past master of the Grove City F&AM Lodge 603, a member of the OES 110 and a member of the Slippery Rock Good Fellows and the Ridgeway Elks.

Survivors include his wife, Audrey; his daughter, Barbara K. Pink of Slippery Rock; his three sons, William T. Beatty Jr. and his wife, Peggy, of Grove City, Steve E. Beatty of Slippery Rock and Joseph A. Beatty and his wife, Sara, of Slippery Rock; his stepson, Donald R. Smith of Volant; his two stepdaughters, Rae Lynn Smith of New Wilmington and Lea Ann Kuth of Harmony; his sister, I. Claire Barron and her husband, John, of Slippery Rock; his 10 grandchildren and six step-grandchildren; his great-grandson; and six step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife; and his son-in-law, Gary Pink.

Beatty— The family of William Thomas Beatty Sr., who passed away Sunday, April 27, 2014, will receive friends at the Smith Funeral Home, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 1 p.m. until the time of the service at 2 p.m. Sunday.Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home with the Rev. Keith McIlwain, pastor of the Slippery Rock United Methodist Church, officiating. A Masonic service will be observed Saturday evening at the funeral home.Military honors will be observed following interment in Slippery Rock Cemetery.Memorial contributions may be given to the American Heart Association or the American Kidney Association.