Obituary for William Joseph Diehl
Latham – William J. Diehl, 87, passed away peacefully at his residence, on Monday, November 30, 2020. A longtime Latham resident, he was born in Troy, N.Y., son of the late William and Emily Nailor Diehl.
Bill is predeceased by Henrietta, his loving wife of 51 years. Bill is survived by his family, Susan Diehl; son-in-law, Robert Miller, Michigan; Christopher and Lisa Diehl of Webster, N.Y., their daughters Meghan (Josh) and Allie; Matthew and Amy Diehl of West Chester, Pa., their children, Madelyn and Nicholas; Karen Diehl Sullivan, of Latham, N.Y., and her children, Jessica, Stephen and Emily. Bill is also survived and adored by his cousin, and several nieces, nephews and friends that will always be cherished.
Bill was predeceased by his daughter, Lisa Anne Miller; his sisters, Alma (Alex) Zak and Lois (Dave) Davis; his sister in-laws, Janet (Edmund) Rigney, Joan (Gerald) Fogarty; also predeceased by his nieces, Sharon DiSarro and Shirley Rigney; and nephews, Daniel, John and Andrew Rigney.
Bill, attended St. Augustine's Elementary School and was a proud graduate of LaSalle Institute in 1951. Throughout high school Bill worked as a waiter at Verdile's Restaurant in Troy N.Y. After high school Bill went on to work for The Watervliet Arsenal and enlisted in the Naval Reserve. During The Korean War Bill was called to active duty in the Navy and was stationed in Guam as a Communication Technician. Even then, he had no idea how important he was. Such a humble man. During that time, he received a "Dear John Letter", and as he stated, although it didn't feel that way at the time, it was the best “Dear John Letter” he ever received. It brought him to my mother, it brought him to his love, Henrietta. After returning from the war, Bill would go on to graduate from Hudson Valley Community College and worked proudly for IBM for 36 years, retiring in 1993. To say the least, Bill was a devout Catholic and a communicant of Our Lady of the Assumption Church, where he proudly served as an usher along with fulfilling other duties for many years. He and his wife Henrietta had a love for theatre and were volunteer ushers at Proctor’s Theatre for over a decade together. Dad continued on to receive his 20 Year Aisle Captain Pin before his volunteer retirement. Bill will always be remembered, by all who knew him, as a fine gentleman and a man who always put others before himself. To know him was to love him and you were blessed and a richer person if you did.
Those wishing to remember Bill in a special way can make memorial contributions in his name to Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 498 Watervliet Shaker Rd. Latham, NY 12110 and/ or “The Giving Tree” at the Parish.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, December 4th at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 498 Watervliet Shaker Rd. Latham. Burial will follow at Saratoga National Cemetery with full military honors. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, December 3rd from 4 to 7 pm at The Bowen and Parker Bros. Funeral Home, 97 Old Loudon Rd. Latham.
Bill is predeceased by Henrietta, his loving wife of 51 years. Bill is survived by his family, Susan Diehl; son-in-law, Robert Miller, Michigan; Christopher and Lisa Diehl of Webster, N.Y., their daughters Meghan (Josh) and Allie; Matthew and Amy Diehl of West Chester, Pa., their children, Madelyn and Nicholas; Karen Diehl Sullivan, of Latham, N.Y., and her children, Jessica, Stephen and Emily. Bill is also survived and adored by his cousin, and several nieces, nephews and friends that will always be cherished.
Bill was predeceased by his daughter, Lisa Anne Miller; his sisters, Alma (Alex) Zak and Lois (Dave) Davis; his sister in-laws, Janet (Edmund) Rigney, Joan (Gerald) Fogarty; also predeceased by his nieces, Sharon DiSarro and Shirley Rigney; and nephews, Daniel, John and Andrew Rigney.
Bill, attended St. Augustine's Elementary School and was a proud graduate of LaSalle Institute in 1951. Throughout high school Bill worked as a waiter at Verdile's Restaurant in Troy N.Y. After high school Bill went on to work for The Watervliet Arsenal and enlisted in the Naval Reserve. During The Korean War Bill was called to active duty in the Navy and was stationed in Guam as a Communication Technician. Even then, he had no idea how important he was. Such a humble man. During that time, he received a "Dear John Letter", and as he stated, although it didn't feel that way at the time, it was the best “Dear John Letter” he ever received. It brought him to my mother, it brought him to his love, Henrietta. After returning from the war, Bill would go on to graduate from Hudson Valley Community College and worked proudly for IBM for 36 years, retiring in 1993. To say the least, Bill was a devout Catholic and a communicant of Our Lady of the Assumption Church, where he proudly served as an usher along with fulfilling other duties for many years. He and his wife Henrietta had a love for theatre and were volunteer ushers at Proctor’s Theatre for over a decade together. Dad continued on to receive his 20 Year Aisle Captain Pin before his volunteer retirement. Bill will always be remembered, by all who knew him, as a fine gentleman and a man who always put others before himself. To know him was to love him and you were blessed and a richer person if you did.
Those wishing to remember Bill in a special way can make memorial contributions in his name to Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 498 Watervliet Shaker Rd. Latham, NY 12110 and/ or “The Giving Tree” at the Parish.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, December 4th at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 498 Watervliet Shaker Rd. Latham. Burial will follow at Saratoga National Cemetery with full military honors. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, December 3rd from 4 to 7 pm at The Bowen and Parker Bros. Funeral Home, 97 Old Loudon Rd. Latham.