William Fishel

William Melvin Fishel passed away peacefully in Los Angeles, California on May 12, 2021, at the age of 95.

Born in Akron, Ohio on March 23, 1926, to parents Jess Paul Fishel and Vida Loretta Bond. He grew up in Cuyahoga Falls and graduated Cuyahoga Falls High School in the class of 1944. William enlisted in the Army Air Corp in Sept 1943 and began his active service in November 1944. He served as an aerial photographer in Japan and then in South Korea, as part of the occupational support. He was honorably discharged in September 1946. In 1949 he married Joan Harriman then with the help of the GI Bill, he graduated from Kent State University in 1952.  In 1953 William began working in the engineering department at Goodyear Aerospace, dedicating 36 years of service to the company, retiring in 1989 from what was then Lockheed Martin.

William was active in the Masonic Star Lodge #187 as a 4th degree Mason for 75 years. William was a fixture at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Cuyahoga Falls and very often one of the first people new members met when they came to the church.  He was a very devoted member of St. John’s Episcopal in Cuyahoga Falls since early 1960s, serving on various positions in many of the church’s groups and guilds. He also to served his community by becoming involved in programs like Good Neighbors, Soups On and Relay for Life.

William loved fishing, gardening, bowling, camping, woodworking along with spending quality time with his family and friends. To know William was to know a kind, loving, accepting and faithful man who gave 100% of himself to others in everything he did. His presence and life will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

William is proceeded in death by his wife, Joan (Harriman) Fishel and son, Keith Fishel.  He is survived by his remaining children, Rebecca Fishel-Bright (husband Ken), Kevin Fishel (wife Emma), Karen Howard (husband Todd); and his grandchildren, Heather Adams (husband David), Kyle Fishel, Rhys Fishel, Maxwell Howard, Aidan Fishel, and Chandler Howard. William is also survived by his brother, James (Jim) Fishel of Collierville, TN, his children Eric Fishel, Jimmy Fishel and Sally McCormack (Fishel) and their families. William is further survived by many family members near Grand Rapids, MI and his dearest friend of many years, Alyce Crowe of Cuyahoga Falls, OH.

Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, June 19, 2021, at 11AM at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please donate to St. John’s Episcopal Church in his memory.