William Luke Lyons

William (Bill) Luke Lyons, 92, of Gracemont, was born January 21, 1922 in New York City, New York to William J. & Frances Catherine (Mead) Lyons. He passed away Thursday, February 20, 2014 in Binger.

At a young age Bill and his brother were placed in an orphanage after their parents divorced where Bill learned among other things how to make baseball uniforms (Bill and his future wife Catherine-Rose Mays were in the same orphanage at the same time but never met because there was a side for boys& another side for girls). His grandmother Mary Veronica (Finn) Lyons took Bill and his brother Roy out of the orphanage to live with her and their sister Gertrude Ann (Lyons) Baker.
He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939. He was stationed at Cornell where he worked for their school of husbandry (farming, etc.) and shoveled horse manure out of the barns (He always said he attended Cornell). Bill played baseball for the Catholic Youth Org and the Police Athletic League. He was recommended to one of Major Leagues (out of Boston) and a scout came to the house to interview him & offered a spot for tryouts, the salary was just room and board. Bill declined choosing to stay and continue to help his grandmother and siblings. Bill entered the military in 1943. He completed Anti-Aircraft Artillery School and participated in the Saipan Campaign. Bill served in Asiatic Pacific Theater of operations with 283rd Ordinance Maintenance Company. The men in the ordinance were not called into battle with the enemy unless the camps were attacked. After others received recognition for jobs & ideas he performed he changed positions and went to Bakers & Cooks School in Saipan and oversaw the food service of three hundred men. While he often told his children and grandchildren he was simply a cook while enlisted and didn't see much, most learned he simply preferred not to share about his time overseas with those whom didn't serve. He was also the captain of the camps football team. He became seriously ill while overseas in 1945 received his Honorable Discharge at the Separation Center in Fort Dix, New Jersey. He received the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 1 Bronze Star, American Campaign Medal), Good Conduct Metal and World War II Victory Medal, Marksman Badge with Carbine Bar and a WW II Honorable Service Lapel Button. He lived in New York City after leaving the army and worked as a grocery delivery person, a furniture mover, a warehouse stock-man and salesman. He also worked at a gas station at night where he often told us gas was .25 cents a gallon. He worked for Gould Motor Parts for many years until they fired him for making more than the executives as he worked as a commission only salesman and refused to take a salary position. He took hold of the American dream and started his own company's. He and a partner created Diesel Components and Lyons & Durand Inc. and were very successful as 100% of their clients followed him. He said the secret to success was when you say you're going to do something, Do it!
Bill & Katie started dating in the fall of 1946. They married on April 11th 1948 in New York City, at the Church of the Holy Cross. Together they had 13 children. Their doctor told them if they used him to deliver all their children that he would only charge $50 per child no matter how many they had. Bill enjoyed Sports, gardening, travel and family. He and Catherine were very active in their church, often donated their time, money and food to charity. After 50 years of marriage Bill & Katie renewed their wedding vows (Bill joked he was only putting in for another 25).
Bill was preceded in death by his parents William J & Frances Catherine (Mead) Lyons; his brother Roy F. & Dorothy (Leone) Lyons; his sister Gertrude Ann (Lyons) & Gordon E Baker; his children Elizabeth Frances, Charles James& Patrick Claude.
Survivors include his children: William & Sue (Chapin) Lyons, Michael & Carrie (Mitchell) Lyons, Lloyd Lyons, Russell Lyons, Loretta Kerkhoff, Gerard Lyons, Peter Lyons, Margaret & David Rousher, Maureen Lyons & Catherine Lyons as well as 15 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.
A memorial service will be held at 1 P.M., Saturday, March 1, 2014 in the Steverson Funeral Chapel with Pastor Curtis Kocsheski, officiating. A luncheon will follow at the 1st Assembly Of God Church in Gracemont for family and friends. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.steversonfuneralhome.com .