William A. Persely

YORK - William A. Persely, 74, formerly of Morrisville, PA, passed away Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at his residence. He was the husband of Juliana M. (Sanson) Persely to whom he was married for 47 years on August 18, 2009. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, October 22, 2009 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 6084 Canal Road, Abbottstown with his priest, Monsignor Mercurio A. Fregapane officiating. Viewings will be held from 6-8:00 PM Wednesday with a prayer service being held at 7:45 PM at Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., 1551 Kenneth Road, York and from 10-11:00 AM Thursday at the Church. Burial with full military rites will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, PA. Born June 18, 1935 in Booth, West Virginia, a son of the late Ben and Helen (Simon) Persely, he was a graduate of Grafton, WV High School. Mr. Persely retired from Princeton University Forrestal Research Center where he was an electrical engineer. He was a member of Shiloh American Legion, Post 791, was immediate past president of East York Optimist Club, and had served as Assistant Fire Chief for the Forrestal Research Center Volunteer Fire Dept. Mr. Persely was a US Navy veteran of the Korean War where he served in Guam and Korean waters on a Navy minesweeper. In addition to his wife, Mr. Persely is survived by his stepmother, Sybil Persely of Lansdale, PA; two daughters, Carol P. and husband Wayne Powell of Cave Creek, AZ and Debra L. Sabo of State College; six grandchildren, Juliana, Sarah, and Rachel Powell; and Diana, Christopher, and Jill Sabo; a brother, David Persely of San Angelo, TX; two stepbrothers, William Harris of Collegeville, PA and Merray Harris of Quakertown, PA; two aunts, Wilma Zekan and Helen Emery; and an uncle, Harry Persely. He was preceded in death by a brother, Bobbi Persely and a sister, Helen Kast. In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of William Persely may be directed to support pancreatic cancer research at the Johns Hopkins Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center. Please make checks payable to Johns Hopkins University. Gifts may be mailed with a memo indicating that this gift is in memory of William Persely to Ralph H. Hruban, M.D.; Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions; 401 North Broadway, Weinberg 2242; Baltimore, MD 21231-2410 or make a gift online at http://www.path.jhu.edu/pancreas/support.php .