William Bill Melendez

Bill, as he was fondly known, was born in Manhattan to his late parents, John and Mary (nee Conception). He was raised in New York City and then out on Long Island in Copiague. His family was generations in the auto repair business, but he began a career in the aviation industry as an Inspector with Republic Fairchild Aviation on the P47 Thunderbolt The PT-19 and later the F-105 Thunderchief. Soon after, he also joined the family businesses as a mechanic.

While working at Republic Aviation another passion of Bills took flight , he met Jack Reinhard and his passion for Stock Car Racing was off to the Races! Bill and Jack became fast friends & machinists on racing engines at West Amity Auto Parts in Amityville owned by Jacks brother Carl. They soon formed a race team and the Famed J6 Stock Car was born racing at Freeport , Riverhead & Langhorne Pa.

Bill's father, John Melendez; owned and operated several service stations through the years in Copiague, Huntington and Amityville and Bill soon opened his own Sunoco service station in Lindenhurst where all of his sons & family worked at one time or another.

In his free time, Bill loved building models - planes, tanks, ships and cars; He loved listening to music - especially Frank Sinatra. Bill also loved to bowl, and did so until he physically could not. He enjoyed bowling at Farmingdale Lanes in the early years, but spent most of his bowling days at Werner's in Lindenhurst. Bill also loved watching Drag Racing with his sons Kenny, R.I.P, & Richie and discussing the races and drivers of NHRA Drag Racing .

Bill is survived by his beloved children, grandchildren, family and friends; and is pre-deceased by his wives, Gloria and Patricia .

The family will receive friends on Sunday, November 26th, from 4:00 - 9:00 p.m. The Funeral Service will be offered at 8:30 p.m., by Deacon Douglas Smith of Our Lady of Perpetual Help R.C. Church in Lindenhurst.

Cremation will follow, and is private.