Born in Lynchburg, June 9, 1925, he was the son of the late Oscar Sisk and Cordie Pickeral Sisk. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Bourke Sisk; one brother, Oscar Sisk, Jr. and one sister, Joyce Creasy.
Bill and a group of students left during his senior year at E.C. Glass High School and joined the Army to fight in WWII. He served in the 90th Infantry Division, and landed on Utah Beach in Normandy on D-Day. He was a member of the 915 Artillery Battalion, T.O. – Tough Ombres, in Pattons Third Army. Bill was wounded on Hill 122 in Normandy and was sent to England to recover. The doctor pinned amputate on his leg. When he was sent to Oxford the Doctor tore off the amputate note and saved his leg. He joined his division for the Battle of the Bulge. The 90th discovered the the Merkers Salt Mines and Bill had an opportunity to see where Hitler hid his treasures of gold and art. The 90th Division fought the 11th Panzer Division from Normandy throughout Europe. When the 11th Panzer Division went to surrender they encountered a different army. They said they would only surrender to the 90th who were then called back to accept the surrender. They also liberated Flossenburg Concentration camp. He received the French Croiz deGuier, the French Legion of Honor and the Purple Heart. After returning home from the war, Bill finished high school, attended Lynchburg College and married Virginia Bourke. He worked in retail sales and was the retired sales manager of Miller and Rhodes which later became Macy’s.
He is survived by two daughters, Martha Sisk Hackworth and her husband David of Lynchburg and Michael Sisk Paris and her husband Mel of Atlanta, GA; six grandchildren, Caroline Paris Brennan (Tim), Chase Paris (Lindsey), Preston Paris, Sally Paris Benton (Wallace), Jason Hackworth (Kahoua) and Topher Hackworth and nine great grandchildren.
A funeral service will be conducted at 12 Noon, August 16, 2021 at St. John’s Episcopal Church with the Reverend Ben Cowgill officiating. Interment will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church for one hour prior to the service.
Friends are invited to a reception following the graveside service at Discover Church, 1030 McConville Rd.
The family will receive friends at other times at the residence.
The family requests memorial contributions be made to the National D-Day Memorial, P.O. Box 77, Bedford, VA 24523, or the Military Order of the Purple Heart, 1129 Meriweather Cir, Lynchburg, VA 24503 or to the Lynchburg area Veterans Council, PO Box 1104, Forest, VA 24551.
