Mr. William J. McKinley

William James McKinley, age 96, beloved husband of Betty F. McKinley n’ee Kacmar; loving father of William (Liz) McKinley, Bonnie (Ted) Goldsmith, Michael (Brenda Stenerson) McKinley, Martin (Audrey) McKinley, Mark McKinley and Matthew (Dawn) McKinley; proud Grandpa of William (Jessica) McKinley, Molly (Bryan) Headley, Katie (Jeff) Rice, Amy (Matthew) Doyle, Christopher (Nicole) Goldsmith, Brendan McKinley, Michaela McKinley, Ben McKinley, Rebecca (Tim) Scott, Morgan McKinley, Matthew (Chloe) McKinley, Jake McKinley; and his great grandchildren, Maximillian “Max” McKinley, Mia “Koko” McKinley, Jay Headley, Theodore “Teddy” Rice, Olivia Rice, Cooper Doyle, Brooks Doyle, McKinley Doyle, Bray Goldsmith, Greer Goldsmith, Robert “Bobby” Gazca, and Kamryn “Kammy” Gazca; dear brother of Donna (Edward) Hornyak; and fond uncle of many nieces and nephews. Bill McKinley was born May 14, 1928 in Cleveland, OH and passed away peacefully on March 7, 2025 in Woodstock, GA leaving behind countless memories and an incredible legacy. Bill grew up in Cleveland, OH and was the oldest of four children. He attended high school at Benedictine Catholic High School in Cleveland and when Japan surrendered at the end of WWII he won a football scholarship to the University of Dayton where he earned a degree in history. He met the love of his life, Betty Kacmar, while attending college. After college he taught at Catholic Central High school in Springfield and coached a winning football team. Bill and Betty were soon married on July 28,1951 at St. Francis de Sales in Parma. Bill transitioned from coaching football to sales. His sales career culminated as the National Sales Director for MACTAC/Bemis Corporation. Bill was very sociable and fun to watch as he interacted with people. He had an incredible memory and easily recalled the names of football teammates, scores of football games, and names of coaches and players on the opposing team. He earned the nickname of Scooter while playing football at the University of Dayton for coach Harry Boujan at a time when WWII combat veterans were returning to school. He played old school football with leather helmets with no face guards. He was small in comparison to his teammates; however, he played with a lot of heart. He played halfback and was voted as the “Best Blocking Back” by his teammates. When Betty passed away, Bill found love again in 1998 at the age of 70 with his high school friend, Doris Campion McKinley. They shared a happy life together in St. George Village, Roswell, Georgia, until Doris's gentle soul departed in 2014. Later in life, Bill loved to sit on the front porch and joke with friends as they walked past the house. He had a fun sense of humor, was quick to crack a smile, and tell a joke! We will always be grateful for his almost 100 years of continuous life coaching and consummate teaching he provided to everyone he ever met. Bill is preceded in death by his parents, William G. and Bernice (Kaska); his wife, Betty (Kacmar) McKinley; wife, Doris Campion McKinley; his brother, Bernard (Delores) McKinley; his sister, Mary Joan (Thomas) Lanese; and his grandchildren Adam McKinley and Timothy McKinley. A memorial mass honoring William’s life will be held on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 10:30am at St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church in Roswell, GA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the University of Dayton or St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church.

Mr. William J. McKinley

May 14, 1928 - March 7, 2025