William Harold Harkins, Jr, 77, of Athens, passed away on December 13, 2023, surrounded by love at his Athens Westside home. Bill had very courageously faced melanoma, colon, and lung cancer but was unable to endure the many challenges of liver cancer.
Bill was born at Sheltering Arms Hospital in Athens on May 15, 1946, to the late William H. Harkins and Anna Mae Baker Harkins. He graduated from Windsor High School and received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Ohio University in Education while enjoying being a member of the Bobcat baseball team and the Yeoman Club. Following his education at Ohio, Bill was a veteran of the United States Air Force and served as a Morse Code Systems Operator on the island of Crete.
Bill spent his lifetime focusing on his family and education; he was a very devoted son, husband, father, and good friend. For 25 years Bill enjoyed teaching his students English composition at Federal Hocking Middle School. Additionally, he was a negotiator and past president of the FH Teachers Association and donated his talents as an editor for theses, dissertations, and articles for Ohio University students and the faculty.
Coaching and participating in numerous sports were also a big part of Bill’s life. While he was teaching at Federal Hocking, he loved coaching football and basketball. Bill was also a member of the McConnelsville American Legion Baseball Team which advanced to the Ohio State Tournament in Athens, and he loved playing shortstop for the Zanesviille Junior Pioneer Baseball Team. He was also named to the Zanesville Times Recorder All-Southeastern Ohio Basketball Team. In mid-life, Bill became passionate about golf, and he even traveled internationally to play golf on many legendary courses.
Bill began a new career at Economy Supply following his Federal Hocking retirement. He often thought he was hired for his talent and skill, but later he realized it had something to do with his commute as he only needed to walk across the street to open the business and take care of any timely issues. He was pleased to learn heating and plumbing skills while creating close relationships with many local residents.
In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, George Sauer; nephew, Tom Collins; and very good friends, Joe Limoli and Stephen Messina. Bill will be deeply missed by his wife of 45 years, Lois Sauer Harkins of Athens; son, Paul (Nicole) Harkins of Pittsburgh; sisters, Renee (Ed) Hopkins of McConnnelsville, and Carlene (Ralph) Morgan of Wellsburg, WV; and sisters-in-law, Carolyn (Rick) Collins of Pomeroy and Sherry Sauer of Jackson. Uncle Bill will also be missed by his nieces, Jessica Harkins (Eric) of McConnelsville and Amy Satterfield (Mick) and Kelly Roush of Middleport; and great-nieces and nephews, Shelby, Dillyn, Dawson, Owen, Branton, Natalie, Nina, Colton, Kyeler, and Arlis; and great-great niece and nephew, Kyndal and Jensen.
Friends are invited to attend a memorial service for Bill on January 20, 2024. Visitation at Jagers & Sons Funeral Home in Athens will be available from 10:00 to 12:00. The memorial service will begin at 12:00 with The Reverend Doctor Rob Martin officiating; a catered reception dinner will follow the service. Private graveside services will be held later at the Middleport Riverview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Heck Harkins Community Center, c/o the Village of Stockport, P.O. Box 1975, Stockport, OH 43787 or to FHTA Harkins Scholarship, c/o Federal Hocking Local Schools, 8461 State Route 144, Stewart, OH 45778. Please share a memory, a note of condolence or sign the online register at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.
