William “Bill” Fertig

William “Bill” Fertig USN (Ret.), 79, of Doctors Inlet, Florida went to Heaven on Sunday, October 7, 2018. Born April 14, 1939 in Locust Dale, Pennsylvania, he grew up in Lavelle and after graduating from Ashland High School, joined the U.S. Navy, serving 22 years. He made Chief while serving in the Vietnam War. After retiring, he was a Realtor for 30 years.

Larger than life, Bill was an avid fisherman, hunter, skeet shooter, and dart shooter, serving many years as the Chief Referee for the State of Florida and Zone 4 with the National Skeet Shooting Association, and was founder and past President of the Northeast Florida Dart Association. In 1978, he won the Florida Men’s State Championship in darts. In skeet shooting, he was a past State Champion and back to back World Champion in the Referee Event in 1980 and 1981. He was a Hall of Fame inductee in both skeet and darts.

He was preceded in death by his mother Martha Wink, father Newton Wayne Fertig, stepfather Harold Wink, all of Lavelle, sister Carol Brennan of Girardville, brother-in-law Robert Walter, Sr of Hatboro, mother-in-law Helen Zerby of Ashland, nephews Paul Rickard of Lavelle, Kaleb Todd of Girardville, and niece Denise Fertig of Ashland.

He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 60 years, Kay, daughter Susan R Fertig both of Doctors Inlet, son Wayne and daughter-in-law Susan L Fertig both of Gretna, Louisiana, grandchildren Joanna (Lance) Burchett, of Zanesville, Ohio, Dustin (Nicole) Fertig, Michael Jones all of Middleburg, and Amber Rosario of Doctors Inlet, 10 greatgrandchildren, sister Gloria Walter of Hatboro, sister Marsha and brother-in-law Charles Rickard, brother Robert Fertig all of Lavelle, brother-in-law Robert Brennan of Elysburg, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, several friends of his son and daughter that grew up being considered as additional kids, and a multitude of friends.

A Celebration of Bill’s Life will be held at 2:00pm, Wednesday, October 24, 2018 at Advent Lutheran Church, 2156 Loch Rane Blvd, Orange Park, Florida with Pastor Jerry Nordsiek and Pastor Tommie Darm officiating with military honors.

At the family’s request, in lieu of flowers donations can be made to Advent Lutheran Church, VFW, Fleet Reserve, NRA, Ronald McDonald House, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.