William L. "Bill" Gilligan

Gilligan, William L. of Sistersville, WV passed away Wednesday, June 6, 2012 at the Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Wheeling, WV. He was born August 17, 1924 in Wheeling to J. Joseph and Emma Eichenberg Gilligan. Bill was proud of his service as a US Marine in the South Pacific during WWII. After the war he received a degree in accounting and a minor in Spanish with the assistance of the GI Bill. He was retired from the Ormet Corporation and served eleven years in the WV State Senate. He was a Board Member of the newly created WV Health Care Cost Review Authority. He was a member of the Sistersville General Hospital Board of Managers for many years. He had taught Spanish at Sistersville High School for several years and he served as Mayor of Sistersville after his retirement from Ormet. He was a Life Member of the Sistersville Elks Club, a long time Lions Club member, VFW Post 6327, National Rifle Association, Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, Sistersville No. 27, Mountain State Knights Templar, Scottish Rite of WV, a Noble of the Nemisis Temple, WVU Alumni Association, Martha Washington Chapter O.E.S., and a long time member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in New Martinsville, WV. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth B. Gilligan, brothers, Patrick and John, and sisters, Betty Gast and Judy Schaffner. He is survived by his sons, Dr. Thomas (Donna) Gilligan, James (Cindy) Gilligan and Robert (Karen) Gilligan, grandchildren, Robbie, John, Tim, Melissa, Erin, and Elizabeth, one great grandson, William Kelly Gilligan, sisters-in-law, Jean W. Gilligan, Evelyn D. Boggs and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 16 at 4 PM at Myers Funeral Home, Sistersville, WV. Calling hours will be from 12 Noon until the time of the service on Saturday. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Ruth B. and William L. Gilligan Scholarship Fund for a graduating senior from Tyler Consolidated High School c/o the Community Foundation of the Ohio Valley, P.O. Box 670, Wheeling, WV 26003.