William Charles Pyatt, Jr.

William Charles Pyatt Junior of Coopersburg Pennsylvania (formerly of Milford, New Jersey), passed away on Friday, December 18 of 2020, in the loving arms of his family.  Bill, also known as Bud, Billy, or Dad, is forever missed. 

 

Born in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, Bill graduated from Delaware Valley High School in Frenchtown, New Jersey, in the class of 1976.  Bill went on to work at Plessy, a ceramics factory in Frenchtown, before moving onto Riegel Paper Mill.  There, he was a winder operator, a fork truck driver, and a dedicated union representative.  After the mill closed in 2003, he was employed by Suburban Ford of Ottsville, Pennsylvania.  He moved on to Kelly Car and Truck of Emmaus where he maintained a similar job, being a lot attendant, prepping and cleaning vehicles, and making auction vehicles look new again.  Bill was only months away from a highly anticipated retirement.     

 

As a child, Bill was curious, adventurous, imaginative, and, some might say, mischievous.  He and his older brother Gregg (predeceased) were always taking on roles of pirates, sea-farers, or skilled explorers.  Dramatic sword fights, often resulting in injury- usually to Gregg.  An eye poke.  A welt from a stick.  As members of Robin Hood’s Men, they accidentally shot an arrow through the side of the above ground family pool.  With machetes, they slashed their way through the brambled hillside.  Donning their cowboy costumes, they had countless shootouts.  As superheroes, they ran at each other with capes- Gregg catching his neck on the clothes line.  Using their super powers, the boys climbed a set of stacked dresser drawers to fly to the ground below- Gregg breaking his arm.  Once, while building their fortress, a large boulder accidentally rolled down the hill, cracked the pool wall, and marked the final end of the family pool.  Whether accidentally lighting the hillside ablaze, or purposefully egging cars from the church’s roof, Bill’s imaginative hometown escapades took him all over the world.

 

Bill, his father (William Charles Pyatt Senior, predeceased), and his brother shared an appreciation for old cars.  Bill owned numerous ‘64 - ‘69 Mustangs and a Thunderbird, to name a few.  Driving fast became one of his passions.  Bill and his brother, who once played so boldly as boys, would often race each other for fun as adolescents.  The mountain roads were winding and difficult to navigate, and sometimes resulted in crashes.  Did that stop Bill’s need for speed?  Absolutely not.  He and his high school friends would race each other still.  Occasionally, they were pursued by the local Holland Township police.  Bill was notorious for speeding tickets or illegal parking tickets at the high school.  As an adult, he continued to drive fast.  When Bill eventually had a daughter, he’d coast them down Ghost Mountain and plant the seed that it was fun to go fast.              

 

Bill’s parents were a huge part of his life.  In him, they fostered a love of history and an appreciation for archaeology.  As a child, his father took him arrow head hunting in nearby farmer’s fields and along the Delaware River.  Bill’s mother, Connie, would accompany the archaeologists- often packing a picnic lunch for the family.  Their discoveries fueled Bill’s interest in history and transitioned into adulthood, where he enjoyed documentaries, visited Gettysburg, and took his family to explore such places as Lost River Caverns, and to dig fossils at Montour Preserve.

 

Bill was a genuine, hardworking man, dedicated to his family- his wife, Carolyn, and his daughter, Paige.  Having met at a high school football game, Bill knew he had a shot with Carolyn when she’d asked his friend for his name.  After years of dating, Bill and Carolyn got married at Our Lady of Victories Church.  The local land smelled of farms, and cows passed the church windows during the service.  A service that began a long road for the two- almost 40 years of marriage.

 

Bill and Carolyn welcomed their daughter, Paige, in 1993.  She was the light of Bill’s life.  A proud father, Bill delighted in Paige’s creativity, general achievements, and similar wild imagination.  In particular, Bill inspired her love of art, buying her countless art kits as a child and having creation time at the table together.  Bill also enjoyed her long basketball career; being her number one fan and toughest coach, he never missed a game.  Paige’s first for everything, Bill introduced her to the world, one thing at a time, and fostered a deep unbreakable bond. 

 

Another first Bill inspired for Paige was an admiration for the natural world through numerous trips to the zoo and time spent outdoors, and a genuine love of dogs.  As a child himself, Bill had dogs Sparky and Prince.  He was later adopted by a cat, nicknamed Baby, who climbed into his lap while in his car.  He bought Golden Retriever Gwenny as protection and companionship at Bill and Carolyn’s new home.  Bill took Carolyn and Paige to get Calisto, a gift for Paige- a sassy Yellow Lab-from a turkey farm in Ephrata.  But Bill and Paige’s greatest love they shared for a gentle Chocolate Lab named Buster, who enriched the family for nearly 14 years. 

 

Bill’s life was filled with eclectic interests, some of which he shared with his sister, Kimberly Runge.  Bill enjoyed learning about Stangl and Fulper pottery, researching, discussing, and examining unique pieces with Kim.  Bill respected antiques and all things old, but he loved the new as well.  His passion for cars transitioned into a collection of Hot Wheels.  He enjoyed sports memorabilia, books with science fiction flare, and traditional comics.  Bill valued reading the local newspaper and getting good deals when it came to shopping.  He enjoyed watching Westerns with his father as a youth, catching a date night drive-in with Carolyn, and watching cinematic movies with Carolyn and Paige.  Bill held onto his inner child and loved toys as well, owning snowmobiles, a boat, video games, and buying every newfangled toy he could gift to his daughter and nephews. 

 

Bill was a generous man- sharing his gifts with others and accepting everyone for who they were, at whatever stage of life they were at.  Friends comment how his humor uplifted their days or made them smile.  Others say he was comfortable and familiar, like a warm relative or a favorite uncle.  Some share how much he influenced their decisions or opened their minds and empowered them on a new life path.  Sometimes stern on the outside, Bill was calm in a crisis, dependable daily, and gentle on the inside.  A forceful and inspiring teacher, often embellishing with his wit and witticisms, whether you wanted to hear them or not.  Bill was a lover and a fighter, perfect in his own way, and a “textbook great man.”     

 

SURVIVORS:

Bill lives on through his amazing mother, Connie Pyatt; his beloved sister, Kimberly Runge; his niece, Heather Runge; her children, Nick and Cass; and his nephew, Lucas Pyatt.

Bill’s love lives on through his wife, Carolyn, and his extended family and friends, including Paige’s long time boyfriend, Adam Fosbenner.

Bill’s heart continues to beat in his daughter, Paige.

 

SERVICES:

Services will be held on Saturday, January 2, 2021 at the Heintzelman Funeral Home of Hellertown PA.  Gathering hour will be held from 11am – 12pm. Prayer service will be held at 12pm.  Online expressions of sympathy may be recorded at www.heintzelmancares.com 

 

CONTRIBUTIONS:

No flowers!  Please consider making a donation to:

Bill Pyatt’s Otter Fund at the Lehigh Valley Zoo

https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E53678&id=42

or

Bill Pyatt’s dog fund at the Berks Animal Rescue League

https://www.berksarl.org/donate/ 

58 Kennel Road Birdsboro PA 19508

610-373-8830 ext. 103

 

***Be sure to specify “dedicated gift or tribute gift” and “Bill Pyatt.”