William Henry Waechter

On Nov. 29th Major William “Bill” Henry Waechter, USAF Retired, died peacefully at home surrounded by family after a long and full life.

Born May 17, 1923, in Turtle Creek PA, Bill was the eldest son of Russell E. and Anna May Waechter. After a childhood spent on his grandparents’ farm, the family moved to Erie, PA, where he graduated from Lawrence Park High School.

It was on the farm that his lifelong passion for engines and all things mechanical began, when at age 10 he was given a Model T to disassemble and rebuild.

William was an avid BMW owner, collector and enthusiast, and was generous in sharing his expertise and knowledge. His other lifelong interests included flying, a love for music, computers and his children.

On Dec. 12, 1942, William enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, determined to become a pilot, and in 1944 was commissioned Lieutenant. He flew the Republic P47 Thunderbolt Fighter with the 345th Fighter Squadron – Devil Hawks, 350th Fighter Group. Between February and May 1945, he flew 38 missions in Italy and North Africa.

He was wounded on April 1, 1945, and was awarded the Purple Heart. Among his other wartime honors were the Distinguished Flying Cross, AIR Med. Oak Leaf Cluster, The European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and Presidential Citations.

At the conclusion of the war, Bill took some time for education before returning to active service. Retrained as a weapons controller and radar specialist, he was stationed in Tripoli, Libya; Saratoga Springs, N.Y., North Truro, MA, New Foundland, Canada; Otis, MA (where he flew the Air Defense patrol “Connie” ), and Madrid, Spain, before returning to the family home in Barnstable after retiring from the military in 1971.

It was while stationed in North Truro in 1957 that he met and married his wife, Diane Cellini, with whom he raised 8 children. They lived first in Wellfleet before moving to their West Hyannisport home in 1958.

His military service was followed by careers in real estate and with the U.S. Postal Service.

William is survived by his children Anna Maria Waechter of Marstons Mills; Marie Waechter of Northampton and her daughter and son-in-law Anja and Daniel Potter, and granddaughter Antonia; Dianne Waechter of Centerville and her children Nicholas, Brian and his wife Sara, Jonathan Hubbard, and granddaughter Averie; Marya Waechter Along of Marstons Mills and her children William Waechter Along and Emma Cellini Along; Sara and her husband Thomas F. Holmes, Jr., of Hyannis and their children Samantha and Michael and his fiancé Stevana Pierre; Frank Waechter of Centerville; and Russell Waechter of West Hyannisport. He is predeceased by his son William “Billy” Waechter and his ex-wife Dianne Cellini Waechter, both of West Hyannisport, and his siblings Russell E. Waechter Jr. of Erie, PA, and Dorothy O’Grady of Wintergarden, FL.

Visiting hours will be on Dec. 15, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Doane Beal & Ames, 160 W Main St, Hyannis, Mass 02601. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 16, at Our Lady of Victory, 230 So. Main Street, Centerville. Burial will follow in Crocker Park Cemetery, West Barnstable. In lieu of Flowers, please make gifts to Cape Cod Veterans, POBOX 81,Dennisport, MA. 02639

Thank you to the Cape Cod Times and Barnstable Patriot for the following stories about William Henry’s Life:

http://www.barnstablepatriot.com/article/20061102/NEWS/311029927

http://www.capecodtimes.com/article/20150628/NEWS/150629482