LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio - William “Bill” Litch Jr., 92, joined his wife, Ann Marie Patrone, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014 on her birthday.
He died peacefully of natural causes at Park Vista’s nursing home in Youngstown, Ohio (Mahoning County) .
He was the youngest child of the late William and Katherine Litch (Hliscic).
Bill was preceded in death by his sisters, Mary and Ann; his brothers, John and Frank; and his nephews, John (Sonny) Litch Jr. and Frank Litch Jr.
Mr. Litch was born in Coitsville, Ohio on State Line Road, attended Science Hill School, and worked at Hubbard Blast Furnace and Youngstown Sheet and Tube where he became a leading figure in dissident movements for international democracy within the United Steelworkers Union.
He was part of the Dues Protest Committee from 1956 to 1957, and its successors,
The Organization for Membership Rights and the Rank-and-File Team with activists Ed Mann and John Barbaro.
He served as secretary of the Steel Workers Union of America, Local 1462 and ran for President of the International Steel Workers Union against I.W. Abel.
He also served as a World War II Army Sergeant stationed in the Panama Canal.
He was an active and long-standing member of the Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge 66 and attended St. Ann and St. Casimir Catholic Church
. Bill, lovingly known as “Wild Bill” lived life at its fullest, traveling the world with his family, enjoying lamb roasts with his family and friends, and working out six days a week until the age of 90, first as a member of the Business Men’s Club of the Y.M.C.A., then at the Jewish Community Center.
He was passionate about auto mechanics and taking care of his lawn.
He was a no-nonsense guy who was loving and caring and his absence will be felt by many.
He leaves behind his son, W. Gary Litch; daughter-in-law Françoise (Fran); and grandchildren Scott and Christine (fiancé Kyle Knox).
There will be a private showing for family and friends Jan. 1, 2015 at 1 p.m., followed by a prayer service at 3 p.m. at the Schiavone Funeral Home in Youngstown, Ohio.
Please visit
www.schiavonefh.com to share condolences. - See more at:
http://www.vindy.com/news/tributes/#sthash.NTNgKB1Z.dpufPlaintiff in case
AIKENS v. ABEL
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
March 26, 1974
WILLIE AIKENS, JOHN S. BARBERO, G. BRUCE BOSTICK, ANTHONY S. BUMBICO, MARGARET CROMWELL, ROBERT DAHNKE, JAMES DAVIS, PERRY DUKES, GEORGE R. EDWARDS, BRUCE ENTERLINE, JEFF ENTERLINE, MILTON L. ESKEW, JOHN HENEGHAN, VERA HENEGHAN, DONALD R. JORDAN, JOSEPH KRANZDORF, JOSEPH S. KUN, CARL KESSLER, ROBERT LEWIS, FRANK LITCH, WILLIAM LITCH, JR., EDWARD MANN, THOMAS MIEHL, JAMES W. MOORE, JAMES L. MOREY, EUGENE MOSER, S. MICHAEL OLSZANSKI, DENNIS PESKIN, MICHAEL A. POCHIRO, JR., ALICE PEURALA, ALFRED SAMTER, RUDY SCHNEIDER, MICHAEL SCHUCKE, GEORGE TROY, DAVID WOOD, Plaintiffs
v.
I. W. ABEL, individually and as International President of United Steelworkers of America
and more
Union Activist
WWII Veteran