Born in Bridgeville, PA to Wilbert and Margaret Sims on November 1, 1920, William L. ("Bill") Sims was the second child of a coal mining, farm family that was hard hit by the Great Depression. He grew up working the family farm under the guidance of his Uncle Billy Gordon and, with his older sister, helped raise six more brothers and a younger sister. He was the captain/center on the Peters Township HS 1937 championship basketball team, worked in the steel mills, entered Carnegie Tech, volunteered for the Army Air Corp after Pearl Harbor, and served as a Staff Sgt. in the Pacific Theater. Returning to Pittsburgh after the war, Bill married Bettie Ruth Richards in 1946 and started selling Bowman Products to Chrysler dealerships in Western PA. He helped change the face of that industry and advanced his career to become General Manager of the Bowman Distribution Division of Barnes Group, Inc.

After retiring Bill and Bettie moved from Cleveland, OH to Indian Lake, PA where he pursued his love of golf, bridge, and good times with family and friends and where he taught all four of his grandchildren to water ski. Later in their lives Bill and Bettie greeted the 21st century as active members of the Village Heights community of State College, PA. Throughout his adult life Bill served on school boards, in local governments, and with charitable organizations. Two years ago Bill moved into his apartment at PineCastle where he continued to play bridge and make new friendships at the Juniper Village at Brookline. He passed away peacefully on June 13, 2015.

Bill did so much for so many and took great joy in making the world a brighter place. His smile would always light up a room. His lovely and beloved Bettie was his favorite bridge and dance partner, Sinatra was his favorite singer, Stardust was his favorite song.

Bill was predeceased by his mother and father, sister Gladys Williams, brothers W. Norman, Robert, John and Gordon Sims. He is survived by his brothers Elmer (and wife Lois) and Edward (and partner Ova Whitehead), sister Doris Furlong, son Richard, daughter Karen Franke, 4 grandchildren, 3 great-grandsons, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to houseofcare.org.

A guestbook can be signed and condolences sent to the family at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com