William Lake

SMETHPORT - William "Bill" Alan Lake, 72, of Smethport, died Thursday (Sept. 3, 2015) in the UPMC-Shadyside, Pittsburgh.
He was born April 15, 1943 in Doylestown, a son of Watson D. and Ida Wismer Lake. On May 26, 1979, in Trinity Lutheran Church, Smethport, he married Linda Donovan, who survives.
Mr. Lake was a 1961 graduate of Central Bucks High School, where he was an outstanding baseball player. He then attended Penn State University and received an Associate Degree in Forest Technology in 1964.
Bill also served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam, as a combat engineer.
Mr. Lake moved to Smethport in 1973, opening a real estate office for Stevens Real Estate. In 1980, he and his wife Linda, bought the business and changed the name to Bill Lake Real Estate. They operated the business until 2011. He then opened Bill Lake Appraisals in 2011 and operated the business up to his death. His commitment to the Smethport area has long been appreciated and will be missed.
Bill was a member of the Hope Lutheran Church of Smethport, was a Rotary member for 42 years, where he was also a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member and former chief of the Smethport Fire Department for 42 years, a member of the Midway Fire Company of Lahaska for 14 years, a member of the McKean County Association of Realtors for 27 years, a member of the Pennsylvania & National Association of Realtors for 42 years earning Realtor Emeritus, McKean County Planning Commissioner, on the Smethport Borough Water and Sewer Authorities and the Smethport Borough Park Authority, a life member of the Keating Sportsman's Club, NRA Life Member, member of The Second Amendment Association, a hunter education instructor for 35 years, a member of the Smethport Area Chamber of Commerce, and a life member of the Penn State Alumni Association.
Bill was an avid hunter, taking many hunting trips out west with friends. His trip in 2014 included sons Jory and Adam. His favorite place to hunt and frequent was his camp in Potter County. Bill and his wife enjoyed traveling together and spending time with family and friends. He was a husband, Dad and grandfather who was greatly loved and respected and will be missed.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Lori (George) Rapp and Rachel (Gary) Howes of Smethport; three sons, Scott (Jill) Burdick of Aldie, Va., William J. "Jory" (Maureen) Lake of Emmaus, and Adam Lake of Sterling, Va.; eight grandchildren, Michael Miles, James & Gloria Rapp, Zachary & Brandon Burdick, Tyler Howes, Griffin & Austin Lake
and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by a brother, David W. Lake.
Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes Inc., 2 Bank St., Smethport. Funeral services will be held Monday at 11 a.m. from the Hilltop Baptist Church, Gifford, with the Rev. Thomas Beam, pastor of the Hope Lutheran Church of Smethport, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Smethport. Military honors will be accorded by the American Legion, Bucktail Post #138 of Smethport.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Smethport Fire Department, the Hamlin Memorial Library, Hope Lutheran Church of Smethport, or the Smethport Rotary Club Polio Plus Fund.
Online condolences may be made at www.hartle-tarboxfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes Inc., Smethport.