William Charles Frantz

William Charles “Bill” Frantz, 64, of Washington, Canton Township, died in his home on October 11, 2013. Bill was born June 19, 1949, in Washington, a son of William Wilson Frantz and Mary Ann Openbrier Frantz. He was raised predominantly by his grandmother, Mary Grast, whom he admired for her faithfulness to God and her strong will power. Bill enlisted in the United State Marine Corps in 1967 and went to boot camp training at Parris Island. He served in Vietnam in the DMZ area in 1967-1968 with the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division as a M-60 gun squad leader. While in Vietnam, he received three Purple Hearts for injuries that caused him to be a 100% disabled veteran. His citations include the National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with three stars, Republic of Vietnam Service Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with palm, Combat Action Ribbon and Meritorious Unit Citation. He was honorably discharged on December 10, 1970. A proud moment of his life was meeting Colonel John W. Ripley at a 3/3 Reunion and the Colonel saying that he heard that Bill’s “machine guns kicked ass.” Bill worked most of his life for the Department of Defense in Civil Service at Naval Air Station Oceana in Norfolk, Virginia. He loved it so much that he always said he would go back to work there for free. He also worked briefly for the U.S. Postal Service in Washington and Pittsburgh, and retired from the transportation unit of the Veterans Affairs Office in Pittsburgh. Bill was a life member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Vietnam Veterans Inc., and Marine Corps League. He attended St. Hilary Church and was a regular member of the Pulaski Club, Polish Club and the American Legion Edwin Scott Linton Post 175, where he proudly served on the Honor Guard. Over the years, he served in numerous officer and director positions at each social club, including Second Vice Commander and First Vice Commander at the Legion. Bill loved to fish, camp and shoot guns recreationally at the Dormont-Mt. Lebanon Sportsmen’s Club as well as assemble model cars as a hobby. In the past, he had been the proud owner of many vintage cars. Bill was well known for his strong will, faith in God, love of his kids, and willingness to help everyone around him before himself. He will be missed by his surviving children, Melanie Frantz of Washington and Mack (Renee) Frantz of Morgantown, West Virginia, who are children to his former wife, Susan Navoy Frantz; and Jeremy (Jennifer) Frantz, of Okinawa and William Frantz, Jr. (Wendy Brown), who are children to his first wife, Sandra Jo Eastham Guzzo. Also surviving are a stepsister, Joanne Capitani; and grandchildren, Alex Skidmore, Ariel Frantz, Matthew McNeal, Nicholas Frantz, Benjamin Frantz and Katie Frantz. Friends will be received Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. in William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where a Blessing Service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, October 18th. Burial will follow in National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Bridgeville. Military rites will be accorded graveside by American Legion Edwin Scott Linton Post 175. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the family in care of the funeral home.