William Wayne Hirons' Obituary
William (Bill) W. Hirons of North Fort Myers Florida entered peacefully into his eternal rest in heaven with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 14, 2024 at the age of 90 years.
Having an English and German Ethnic Heritage, Bill was born in Anderson, Indiana on June 15, 1933 to Paul B. Hirons and Ruth Hirons (nee Bechtel). William was a graduate of Chittenango High School in New York. He was an outstanding athlete, excelling in baseball and basketball. He was also a tremendously talented trumpet player, playing in several bands with his brother Bob. After graduating, he joined the US Navy and was assigned to the flagship USS Salem during the Korean War. He was a key trumpet player in the ships band, playing all over the world . The Salem was the world's last heavy cruiser to enter service and the last remaining. She was decommissioned in 1959 after serving in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. She is open to the public as a museum ship in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Bill then married the love of his life Mary Alice Griffin on January 21, 1956 in Boston, MA. Mary Alice was a beautiful 28 year old widow with 5 children and Bill fell head over heels in love with her, and her 5 children. Although being only 21 yrs old when he met Alice, he fully committed heart and soul to her and her children, working multiple jobs after being honorably discharged from the Navy, while going to school full time. His new family was everything to him. He went on to have 3 more children with Mary Alice, then life took him to Syracuse, NY where he built a career and the most wonderful life he could have dreamed of. He worked 36 years as an Instrumentation Engineer for the Onondaga County Metropolitan Water Board before retiring in 1996. After several years of being a snowbird in sunny North Fort Myers, FL, Bill and Alice decided to live full time in Florida. Bill was an avid golfer, continuing to enjoy the many beautiful courses in and around Southwest Florida.
Bill was a man that recognized that there is a spiritual aspect to our existence and life. He had a deep faith, he was a follower of Jesus, he was a Christian. He grew up with this belief and faith. That, and his family, made him the man he was.
Bill’s riches were his family and longtime friends that he made across the years, a mosaic of people from different backgrounds and cultures. This was the beauty of his life and of his person. He was incredibly personable and generous to everyone that he encountered. He had a wonderful sense of humor that we all experienced in many ways. He will be so greatly missed by all who knew him and loved him.
Bill cherished his family and is preceded in death by his wife Mary Alice, and his daughter Sharon Shaughnessy, (grandchildren John, Mary, Sally, preceded in death by grandson Peter (PJ); brother Bob (wife Lou, niece Sherry, nephew Steven, predeceased by nephew Tim). He is survived by his son Thomas Mayock (preceded in death by fur baby Buddy); Son Daniel Mayock (Wife Jane, grandchildren Kim, Monica, Cory); Daughter Diane Gentry (fur baby Riley); Daughter Donna Haley (preceded in death by son-in-law Jimmy, grandchildren Craig, Jennifer and Jessica); Daughter Denise Hirons (preceded in death by fur baby Lucy); Daughter Deborah Hirons (Billy, grandchildren Rick, Michael, Meagan and Andrew); Daughter Ruth Ann (Penny) Hirons, grandson Eric. Bill is also survived by 25 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The Alzheimer’s Association, or the ASPCA-Bill was an animal lover his entire life.
Celebration of Life Service will be Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Windmill Village Clubhouse at 12:00 noon.
To share a story or photo, leave a tribute or to offer condolences to the family at this difficult time please visit Mr; Hirons' memorial webpage located at www.fortmyersmemorial.com and sign his guestbook.
What’s your fondest memory of William?
What’s a lesson you learned from William?
Share a story where William's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with William you’ll never forget.
How did William make you smile?
