William "Bill" F Christ Jr

William "Bill" F. Christ, Jr., 91, of Westfield, NY, passed away on Thursday September 18, 2025 at Gowanda Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

He was born on March 30, 1934, in Erie, Pennsylvania to the late William F., Sr. and Dorthea A. (Blackmond) Christ.

Bill graduated Glenwood Grade School, Academy High School, and attended Penn State University until he was drafted into the United States Army.

He served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves until he was drafted for the Korean War serving in the United States Army.

Bill began his insurance career at Erie Insurance after his discharge from the Army, he was then employed as a regional manager and insurance investigator for the State of Pennsylvania insurance department for 25 years until retirement. He also was elected as Mayor of Westfield from 1995-1997.

He was a member of the Westfield American Legion Post 327, the Westfield V.F.W. Post 6764, Jamestown Old Timers Baseball Team, a social member of Brotherhood of St. Joseph and co-founded the Westfield Rail Fan Club, he was a past member of the Albion Volunteer Fire Department.

Bill enjoyed golfing and was on a golf league at Pinehurst Golf Course in Westfield until the age of 90, he had a love of watching trains prompting the existence of the Westfield Rail Fan Club, in the spring and summer you could always find him gardening at his home, in the fall he would hunt with his son-in-law or good friends Vince Luce and Larry (Ace) Frank, taking a yearly spring trip with his wife to North Carolina and then on to Florida, and he was an avid Buffalo Bills and Sabres fan yelling at the TV like a true Buffalo fan.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Marie Christ whom he married March 5, 1977, died September 24, 2022; daughter, Susan L. Martin; sons-in-law, Charles L. Hancox, John "Jake" P. Yanoshik, and Paul Martin; sister Nancy Glass .

Bill is survived by his daughters, Deborah LeBarron (Edward, Jr.) of Westfield, Beth Hancox of Albion, and Kathleen Yanoshik of Edinboro; son, Mark Christ (Brenda) of Amherst, NY; grandchildren, Megan LeBarron, Lianna LeBarron, Kristyn LeBarron, Kathryn Hancox, Jessica Henderson, and Jason Pittsenbarger; and great-grandson, Jack Henderson.

Friends and family may call at the William D. Elkin Funeral Home, 65 South Lake Street North East on Tuesday September 23rd from 2:00 p.m. until the time of a funeral service at 6:00 p.m. with Full Military Honors. Officiating the service is Rev. Michael Kuvshinikov. Private interment will be held at Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Northern Chautauqua Canine Rescue, 7540 N Gale St, Westfield, NY 14787 or the Alzheimer's Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania, 110 W 10th St., Erie, PA 16501. Please send condolences to elkinfh.com.

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