William C. Meier

William C. Meier, age 68, of Canton, OH, died on August 23, 2009. Despite being a non-smoker for sixteen years, Bill died of advanced-stage lung cancer, initially diagnosed in late June. He was the son of Hans F. and Louise E. Meier, natives of Germany who preceded him in death, also both having died of cancer. He was a 1959 graduate of Rochester, PA High School and a 1963 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Bill began his career in the Pittsburgh office of Price Waterhouse & Co. in 1963, where he became a certified public accountant and audit manager. In 1975, he became a Controller at The Babcock & Wilcox Company, Barberton, Ohio. In 1983, he joined Smithers-Oasis Company, where he served as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer and was a member of the Board of Directors. Upon his retirement in 2001, he founded The William C. Meier Foundation, which supported charities nationally, making grants primarily for education and youth development. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Walsh University, and chaired the Investment Committee and a successful Capital Campaign in 2001. The most significant contribution from his Foundation was for a dormitory on the campus of Walsh University, now named Meier Hall. He also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Tougaloo College near Jackson, MS, since 1976, where he chaired the Finance Committee for over 20 years, where he was presented the Outstanding Leadership Award. He also was a member of the Advisory Boards of Canton Central Catholic High School for over 20 years and The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. He served as a business consultant for the national consulting organization SCORE and was a member of Brookside Country Club. His prior community service included the Board of Education of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, serving as President for three years, and the Board of Directors of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton. In 2007, he formed and organized the Stark Latin Mass Community, with the objective of returning the Traditional Latin Mass regularly to Stark County. Bill was an enthusiastic fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, a season ticket holder since 1970, and attended five Super Bowls with friends and family in which the Steelers participated. His real passion was fly fishing for trout. He made numerous trips each year to the streams in his native Pennsylvania, and many trips to western states. Following retirement, he and his wife Jennifer, and his children and grandchildren, enjoyed special times together at their winter home in Holmes Beach, FL. He leaves behind his loving wife Jennifer, whom he truly loved, son David K. Meier (Stephanie) of Carmel, IN, daughter Jennifer L. Meier of Canton and more recently Chicago, IL, brother John F. Meier (Ann) of Sylvania, OH and grandchildren Paige, Johnathan and William, stepson Jacob Mullane, Columbus, OH and stepdaughter Mary Mullane, attending college in Savannah, GA. Over the years Bill was a parishioner of St. Cecilia’s Church, Rochester, PA, St. James Church, Sewickley, PA, St. Mary’s Church, Massillon, OH, Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel, Akron, OH and Christ the King Church, Sarasota, FL. A Requiem Mass will be said at St. Mary’s Church, Massillon, OH, Friday August 28th at 10am. The celebrant will be Rev. Fr. Justin Nolan, of The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. Private burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Massillon, OH. Friends may call at the Paquelet Funeral Home: 1100 Wales Rd. N.E. Massillon, OH on Thursday, August 27th from 5-8PM. Messages of sympathy and support may be sent to the family at www.paquelet.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the Stark Community Foundation at www.starkcf.org. Paquelet Funeral Home A Golden Rule Funeral Home (330) 833-3222