William Allen “Bill” Schneider, 91, of Chicora, a retired Pennsylvania State Police Trooper, passed away early Thursday morning, March 28, 2024, at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh while in the company of his loving wife and family.
William was born in Jeanette, Westmoreland County on August 7, 1932. He was the son of the late William Schneider and Margaret Bold Schneider Maier.
Bill attended school in Jeanette. He served as a military policeman in the United States Army during the Korean War. He was an excellent marksman and a member of the rifle squad. Bill retired following 30 years of distinguished service with the Pennsylvania State Police, having served as a trooper and a detective working out of Butler Barracks Troop D and later the white-collar crimes unit in Pittsburgh. Bill was always appreciative of his neighbor, Aggie Waltman, for allowing him to park his police car in her driveway.
Bill was a long-time member of the Chicora Moose Lodge, The Brady Paul FOP Memorial Lodge # 54, The Fraternal Order of Police, and the Trooper Assn. PAC (Tap)-Pennsylvania Committee, and the Butler County Law Enforcement Officer’s Association.
Bill enjoyed watching NASCAR races on TV, hunting, a cold beer, camping, traveling out west and trips to the casino, and attending his grandson’s football games.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret A. Riley Schneider, whom he married on May 1, 1965, at Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church in Chicora. Also surviving is a daughter, Beth Ann Kelsea and her husband, Shawn, of Fenelton; two grandsons, Maverick S. Kelsea and his fiancé, Taylor Downs, of Tarentum and Mitchell W. Kelsea of Fenelton; his sisters-in-law, Patricia Riley and Mary Kay Summerville, both of Chicora, Patricia Riley of Cabot, Diane Riley of Connequenessing, and Kay Riley of Chicora, as well as severalf nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, William A. “Billy” Schneider Jr., who passed away in 1975, and a step-brother, Joseph Maier.
Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home of Chicora, 339 Chicora Fenelton Rd., Chicora, from 1-3 and 6-9 p.m. Monday (Members of the Pennsylvania State Police Ceremonial Honor Guard will accord a casket watch.) A service outside of Mass will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday from the funeral home with the Rev. Matt McClain, pastor of St. Clare of Assisi Parish, officiating. The interment with military honors provided by the Chicora and Brady’s Bend American Legion Posts will be at St. Joseph Cemetery in the Village of North Oakland. Members of the Chicora Moose Lodge will conduct a memorial service for their departed brother at 5:45 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Karns City Regional Ambulance Association, PO Box 21, Petrolia, PA 16050, or the Chicora Fire Dept., PO Box F, Chicora, PA 16025. Condolences may be sent by visiting www.hilefh.com.