ERIE — William S. Proper, 80, of Hilborn Avenue, Erie, died unexpectedly Monday afternoon, Nov. 2, 2009, at Hamot Medical Center.

A resident of Erie since 1964, he was born in Titusville on June 27, 1929, a son of the late Ernest and Mary Curry Proper.

William had worked at Smith-Meter for more than 25 years before retiring in 1980 and was a member of Westlake Fire Department for 13 years. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was a member of Lakewood United Methodist Church, a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, Titusville Masonic Lodge 754 and American Legion Post 773 in Millcreek. He enjoyed hunting and fishing.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Patricia Shade Proper; a daughter, Millia Denise Proper; three brothers, Clarence, Clair and Raymond Proper; two sisters, Irene Greenawalt and Lillian Mehan; and a granddaughter, Lee Proper.

Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Karen Bitters Proper; three sons, Douglas Proper and his wife, Jean, of Erie, Dwight Proper and his wife, Barby, of Titusville, and William L. Proper and his wife, Trisha, of Guys Mills; a stepson, Eugene Gaerttner and his wife, Audrey, of North East; a brother, Richard Proper of Rockville, Md.; two sisters, Dorothy Kunz and her husband, Merlin, of Centerville, and Betty Lou Prather of Titusville; a sister-in-law, Florence Proper of Titusville; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Many nieces and nephews also survive.

Friends may call at Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home Inc., 5000 Wattsburg Road (corner of East Gore and Pine Avenue), Erie, today from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Additional calling hours will take place at Gordon B. Garrett Funeral Home, 303 N. Washington St., Titusville, on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

The service will be at Garrett Funeral Home on Saturday morning at 10.

Burial with military honors will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Titusville.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family in care of the funeral home.