William (Bill) John Doyle, Jr., beloved son of William and Anna Doyle, born September 15, 1947, passed away April 21 after a courageous 9-year battle with brain cancer. He was 69.

He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Linda; his children, Michael and Joanna; their spouses, Heidi and Leo; his sister, Sister Anna William Doyle, I.H.M.; and four grandchildren, Jonathan, Ollie, Lexi, and Emma, none of whom he was supposed to meet according to his first cancer diagnosis. No one could have asked for a better son, husband, brother, father, or friend.

Bill worked as a Navy weatherman, a retail manager, a salesman, and a hospital volunteer. He was a gifted storyteller who collected stories every step of the way. He was a proud native of Philadelphia, and still detailed storefronts and landmarks from the neighborhood decades later in those tales.

He was a devoted family man who always handled clean-up duties at family events to keep others socializing at the dining room table just a few minutes longer. Bill would constantly rank holiday gatherings, comparing the menus and merriment to past years for his own record-keeping purposes.

Unofficially, Bill served as the East Coast's foremost expert on car washing and boat waxing, although he never received any offers from local colleges to teach courses on his skills. Instead, he displayed his artistic touch in driveways and docks in the region, while using the time to share more stories with passersby.

And he was never happier than during football season. Not for the games themselves, of course, since the Eagles never lived up to his own pre-season hype, but because they became instant opportunities for parties and camaraderie. Bill rarely remembered the player's names but could tell you who was in the room with him for every big game dating back years.

When his cancer was discovered in 2008, Bill underwent invasive brain surgery that damaged his ability to talk. That sidelined his storytelling for several months, while he painstakingly relearned how to get his stories out, without any real attempt at shortening or simplifying the details.

In contrast to the strength he showed in that fight, as a grandfather he was weak-willed and easily manipulated, sneaking extra treats and toys to the children at every opportunity. His four grandchildren were the joy of his life. One of his great regrets in life was that his own father died while his own children were very young, and he defied medical predictions to change that part of his own storyline.

VISITATION: Friday from 9:30 - 10:45 am at St. Katharine Drexel Church, 1920 Providence Ave., Chester, PA. MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Friday at 11:00 am at St. Katharine Drexel Church. INTERMENT: Ss. Peter & Paul Cemetery, Springfield, PA. In Lieu of Flowers: Contributions may be made to Camilla Hall Nursing Home, 1145 King Rd., Box 100, Immaculata, PA 19345 or Drexel Neumann Academy, 1901 Potter St., Chester, PA 19013. Condolences: www.nolanfidale.com.

Service Location St. Katharine Drexel Church Get Directions

Begins: Apr 28, 2017 11:00am - 11:45am

20th St. & Providence Ave. Chester, PA 19013 Cemetery Location Ss. Peter & Paul Cemetery Get Directions

Apr 28, 2017 12:30pm - 12:45pm

1600 S. Sproul Road Springfield, PA 19064 Condolences