William Joseph "Bill" Pesata

William "Bill" Joseph Pesata, 86, went home to be with Jesus on Saturday, January 31, 2026.

Born in Chicago, Illinois on December 4, 1939 and son of the late Joseph Pesata and Catherine Kurczak. Met Charlotte Juanita "Nita" Price and they married on May 5, 1967. Bill graduated from Harrison High School in Chicago and Jones College in Jacksonville. He enlisted in the US Navy 1957 and served until 1967. Attained the rank of RD1 and earned the Good Conduct Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and National Defense Medal. He retired with 25 years working with AT&T / Lucent Technologies and 10 years with River Region Human Services. Bill and Nita were founding members of the Jacksonville Spina Bifida Association, when their youngest daughter, Sandy was born with this birth defect. He was a member of the Florida State Trooper Auxiliary and Moose Lodge.

Preceded in death by his parents, wife of 58 years, Nita and 2 brothers, Ronald & Milton Pesata. Surviving family include 3 children: Skip Pesata (Rachel), Julie Pesata Mattson and Sandy Greer (Jerry); 4 grandchildren: Devin Pesata (Mallory), Dillon Pesata (Mackenzie), Asheley Messer (Will) and Taylor Willard; 9 great grandchildren: Anniston, Karev, Hampton, Maxsim, Chapel, Callum, Mia, Myles and Elias; 2 sister-in-laws: Ann Pesata & Sandra Jones and a number of nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.

Graveside funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at Jacksonville National Cemetery. Military Honors will be offered by the US Navy.

His family will receive friends on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Peeples Funeral Home, 14165 N. Main Street.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Jacksonville Spina Bifida Association https://www.spinabifidajax.org/