Born May 6, 1925, in Carnegie, he was the last surviving child of the late Reinhardt J. and Susanna (Kupesik) Leininger.

Bill entered the U.S. Navy in 1943 during World War II and proudly served aboard the USS LST 284 as an SK 3/c, during the European Campaign. He participated in the Tiger Operation on April 28, 1944, the Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944 and the Southern France Invasion on August 15, 1944. The following year his ship was reassigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater where they participated in the Okinawa Gunto, the Philippine Liberation and the Japan Occupation, all in 1945. He also served aboard the USS General G. M. Randall, AP 115 during the China Service in 1946. Following the war, he gained employment with G. C. Murphy Co. where he managed several stores in western Pennsylvania. Then he moved on to J&L Steel, Aliquippa works, where he worked as a supervisor until his retirement. In the 1980’s Bill was asked by Fr. Philip J. DeCarlo to manage St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, and he faithfully dedicated many years to its operation. In 2007 Bill was named a Holy Name Society parish honoree from St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Monaca.

He will be sadly missed by his beloved wife, the former Alberta A. Harmon, to whom he was united in marriage on January 16, 1951; five daughters, Alice James and her husband, John of Reading, Patty Millich and her husband, Bob of Austintown, OH, Susan Leininger of Beaver, Joan Rinker and her husband, Marty of Slippery Rock and Judy Shaffer and her husband, Tom of Cranberry Township; seven grandchildren whom he passionately adored, Allison (Chris) Rehmann, Tom (Crystal) James, Taylor Millich, Jenna Rinker, Brett Rinker, Joel Shaffer and Kyle Shaffer and a great-granddaughter, Paige Austen Rehmann, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by nine siblings, infant Susanna Leininger, Rosemary Pealer, Mildred Triebsch, Reinhardt Leininger, John Leininger, Theresa Yurchak, Bernadette Harty, Aloysius ‘Ollie’ Leininger and most recently, Grace M. Kocaya.

Friends will be received Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the SIMPSON FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, 1119 Washington Ave., Monaca (724-728-4000), where parting prayers will be offered Wednesday at 9:15 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, 115 Trinity Drive, Center Township. The Rev. Father Martin R. Bartel, OSB, pastor, will be the celebrant.

In honor of his military service interment will be held at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Bridgeville, PA.