William D. Dietrich, 87, of Erie, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at UPMC Hamot. He was born in Cambridge Springs, PA on March 18, 1930 a son of the late Oscar Dietrich and Bess Dietrich Davis.

William was a 1948 graduate of Academy High School and was stationed in Germany while he served in the United States Army. He worked as an engineer assistant at Hammermill Paper Company for 43 years. Following retirement he worked as a driver for Rite-Aid for 16 years. He was a member of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church and the Jugglers Association, where he served as Treasurer. He belonged to the Troubadours for 40 years and the Scrabble Club. He enjoyed scrapbooking.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his daughter, Cynthia Jarrett; two brothers, Bobby Dietrich, in infancy, and Randy Davis; one sister, Chiquita; and his stepfather, Charles Davis.

Survivors include his wife, Bertha V. Savage Wheeler Dietrich; two daughters, Darlene Massey of Tampa, FL and Robin Gilson and her husband, Bill, of Erie; two sisters, Gwen Dauer of Erie and Brenda Dolwick and her husband, Bob, of McKean; one stepson, Walter J. Wheeler and his wife, Debra, of Erie; 10 grandchildren, Sean and Aaron Massey, Nick, Justin, Andy, and Kim Miller, and Devin, Darrin, Alayna, and Kiana Gilson; and many nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home Inc., 5000 Wattsburg Rd., on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. and are invited to a Funeral Mass at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. celebrated by Rev. Mark A. Hoffman. Entombment with military honors conducted by American Legion Post #773 will follow in Erie County Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 1645 W. 8th St., Erie, 16505.