Born in Meadville, PA, to Joseph and Olga Dittrich. He graduated from Meadville Senior High School in 1946 and enlisted in the US Marines shortly thereafter. He married Ethel Willoughby, also from Meadville, on May 4, 1950. He was a Veteran of the US Marine Corps from May 28, 1946 to May 5, 1947 (during the WW2 era), and the US Army from February 21, 1948 to March 31, 1967. While serving in the Army, he was assigned with the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, NC, worked as a stenographer in the Korean War, and went on to work as a Maintenance Mechanic for the Nike Ajax and Hawk Missile Systems. After retiring from military service, he worked with the Erie Lackawanna and Burlington Northern Railroads as a train conductor until his second retirement in July 1991. He enjoyed camping, fishing, and bowling throughout his lifetime. He is survived by his wife of nearly 70 years, Ethel Dittrich. Together they had three children Robert F. Dittrich, from Groves, TX, and Kim M. Johnson, from Fayetteville, NC, as well as William J. Dittrich, Jr., (deceased). He is also survived by three grandchildren, Kelly D. Johnson, Ronald Lee Johnson, Jr., and Shane Dittrich.
The service for Bill will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at 12 PM at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Fayetteville, NC. The address for the church is 1000 Andrews Rd, Fayetteville, NC.
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