Bill was born on August 4, 1941 in Huntington, the son of Joseph H. and Marian (Kemmer) Lesh. He graduated from Huntington High School in 1959 and attended Huntington University and Indiana University; he also served in the United States Air Force. He married Greta Smithley on October 15, 1988 in Huntington. Bill retired in 2004 as an engineer with New Jersey Transit after 20 years of service in the northeast corridor of the Dewart District Priston Branch; previously, he had been an engineer with Erie Lackawanna Railroad. In the 1993 Railroad Rodeo Competition, he competed for NJ Transit against transit properties throughout the nation to win top honors. Bill provided transportation to and from work, the Shore, and other destinations on the railroad. He was a member of the National Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and of Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Huntington. He served as Past President of Huntington Metro Kiwanis Club and he traveled to over 44 countries. He enjoyed history, photography, music and playing the piano. Bill especially loved his family.
Survivors include his wife of almost 30 years, Greta D. Lesh of Huntington; a daughter, Leah M. Lesh of Markle; a stepson, Chad (Sandy) Shaw of Huntington; a stepdaughter, Carrie (Erik) Stecher of Marion; brothers Robert H. Smith of Huntington and J. Harold (Vina) Lesh of Shateaufort, France; a sister, Carolyn (Richard) Mishler of Toledo, Ohio; a half-sister, Diana (J.R.) Smith of Lodi, California; a half-brother, Steven (Jennifer) Smith of St. Petersburg, Florida; and ten grandchildren. His parents preceded him in death.
Visitation will be from 3 – 6:30 p.m. Thursday, January 25, 2018 at Bailey-Love Mortuary, 35 West Park Drive, Huntington, Indiana. A remembrance service will immediately follow at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Bailey-Love Mortuary with Rev. Russell W. Haitch officiating. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, January 26, 2018 at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 860 Cherry Street, Huntington with Father Tony Steinacker officiating. There will be one hour of visitation at the church prior to the service. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Huntington.
Preferred memorials are to Young Vision Africa, a grassroots 501c3 empowering children and youth in Sierra Leone to become leaders who help others in their country. They are managed by war orphans in their 20s, have built a medical center and started a school in an isolated illiterate area, and have made incredible progress in changing attitudes regarding girls and women. They also run a church in a Muslim area. YVA was founded by a dear friend of Bill’s, based on the church they attended for many years after Bill was already thoroughly involved in helping Africa. “Bill’s spirit and trailblazing as an American throwing himself fearlessly and fully into West Africa helped show us what was possible and is surely a part of who we are.” Donations can be made online at www.youngvisionafrica.org or mailed to Young Vision Africa, P.O. Box 6063, Somerset, New Jersey 08875.
Memorial contributions may also be made to Neema Children’s Center. Bill partnered with concerned mothers and grandmothers in Luanda village, Kenya, to extend God’s grace (Neema in KiSwhahili) to HIV/AIDS orphans and other At-Risk children through education, health care, and meal programs. Donations may be mailed to Neema Children’s Center, c/o Rev. Russell Haitch, 915 Hidden Valley Dr, Richmond, IN 47374.
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