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William B. McElwee Jr.
1941-2025
SALEM -- William B. McElwee Jr., 83, passed away Friday, March 7, 2025.
Born Sept. 7, 1941, Bill was raised in Pennsylvania, where he met his wife the former Karen Stape. In 1967, Bill's journey took him and Karen to Salem, where he began his career as a machinist at National Rubber Manufacturing. He remained with the company for 25 years until its closure, and in 2007, retired from Colfor Manufacturing as an assembler.
Bill was an active member of the Salem First Friends Church and its Encouragers Bible Study Class. Around the Salem community, he was affectionately known as "Dancing Bill," a testament to his love for the jitterbug and the many evenings spent at Waterworth Memorial Park's summer concerts.
Bill leaves to carry on his memory, his wife, Karen McElwee; daughter, Pamela Dow and her husband, Jonathan of Hendersonville, Tenn.; granddaughters, Bethany Dow of Columbia, Tenn., and Rachel Dow of Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.; sister, June Hale of Westminster, Colo.; and a host of extended family.
In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his infant twin granddaughters, Amanda and Catherine Dow; and three sisters, Janice Isherwood, Verna Borst, and Nora McElwee.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 14, 2025, at the Stark Memorial Funeral Home, 1014 E. State St., Salem. Family and friends will be received from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, 2025, and again on Friday, March 14, 2025, from 10-11 a.m., at the funeral home. Burial will be at Grandview Cemetery in Salem.
Memorial tributes may take the form of contributions in Bill's name to Salem First Friends Church, 1028 Jennings Ave., Salem, Ohio 44460.
To view Bill's full obituary, send condolences or order flowers, visit www.starkmemorial.com.
3/10/25