William Quin Ehasz

September 30, 1932 - March 17, 2021

WILLIAM QUIN EHASZ September 30, 1932 – March 17, 2021 William Quinn Ehasz was born September 30, 1932, to James Stephen Ehasz and Velma Parrog Ehasz in New Martinsville, West Virginia. He was their fifth child, preceded in birth by brother Jim and sisters Irene, Ethel, and Barbara all deceased and survived by his sister Mary Ann, born four years later. His family moved to Bellaire, Ohio in 1936 where Bill attended Catholic schools and graduated from St. John’s High School in 1951. As a young boy, Bill’s Dad worked for the B & O ( Baltimore &Ohio ) Railroad and was sometimes on call. It was Bill’s duty to go after his Dad at the movie and let his Dad know he was needed. Bill was especially fond of this “duty” as that meant he got to stay and watch the rest of the movie with his mother while his Dad went to work. Bill received his private pilots’ license in 1957 which started his life-long love affair with aircraft. He went into the U.S. Army in 1954 and was discharged in 1957. He was stationed in Stuttgart, Germany for most of his tour. He then attended Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to become an FAA approved aircraft mechanic. His first job after graduation was in Florida with Pratt-Whitney and then went to Louisiana to work for Petroleum Helicopters Inc. He met his future wife Sharon Lee Hanlon in May 1961 on a Frontier Airlines flight from Denver to Moab, Utah, while on a job with Petroleum Helicopters. Bill was stationed in Moab for three months on top of a mountain. He always said that being stuck on that mountain top for so long was what caused him, a confirmed bachelor, to weaken and propose to Sharon via AT &T. His engagement ring to her was the coil off the bathroom sink stopper from his motel room. Sharon kept this “ring” in her jewelry box all of her life. They were married October 21, 1961, in Delta Colorado. This was a “shotgun” wedding as they had inadvertently chosen the opening day of deer hunting season for their wedding day and all of the male guests had their red shirts and guns in their pickup trucks ready to take off for the mountains as soon as the vows were read. They spent 59 wonderful years together. Bill accepted a job as helicopter mechanic in Chandler, Arizona with Arizona Helicopters Inc. in 1963.He flew all over the state to repair helicopters and other aircraft as well as working in the shop. He never knew when he went to work if he would be home for the night or at the other end of the state. Bill accepted a position with the Bureau of Reclamation in Phoenix, Arizona, as a helicopter mechanic and was there until 1978 when he accepted a position as Aircraft Inspector with the Office of Aircraft Services for the Department of Interior in Boise, Idaho. The following fifteen years were Bill’s “traveling years”- he was out of town for his job more than he was “in town”. He was usually, but not always home for the weekends. He traveled the 50 states at the drop of a hat inspecting various aircraft and their facilities. He ate most of his lunches from vending machines at the many airports he became so familiar with over the years. These lunches consisted of a bag of peanuts and a can of 7-Up, dinners were eaten at any bar that offered free hor-d”oeuvres – had to make that per diem last as the government was not all that free with per diem. Bill called home every day he was out of town to keep in touch with his wife and son and these phone calls were paid for in part by the lunches and dinners Bill went without. Eugene James Ehasz was born February 1968 and became the light of Bill’s life. Gene could do no wrong as far as Bill was concerned. Bill was at every baseball game – no matter how tired he was or the fact that he had just landed at the airport and made a mad dash across town to be at a game. He traveled with Gene to all of his out of town games and when Gene continued playing ball as a married man, attended tournaments from Utah to Florida. He went on scouting trips, cleaned ball fields, took tickets- whatever was needed- for Gene. He was a very patient, proud, and loving father. Bill remained in close contact with his family all his life. In 1998 they bought a computer and Bill fired off regular e-mail to his three sisters, Ethel, Barbara, and Mary Ann. He kept in touch with his brother Jim via telephone- Ma Bell smiled again. He had a very warm, close relationship with his in-laws and was very well loved by all of them. Bill was brilliant with mechanics. He could take anything apart and put it back together and make it work. He was good about sharing his expertise with friends and family. He had a following of ladies after his retirement that kept him in cookies and wine as he fixed appliances and/or cars for them. Bill could bring on a smile from everyone he met. He was hard to anger, quick to praise and very easy to love. Bill was an amazing husband, Sharon always said he was the most self-assured, confident man she ever met. He knew his worth and accepted it- with no bragging. Stubborn to a fault but always there for his wife, son, family and friends. Bill had a quiet sense of humor and could hand you an insult or make a very astute observation of someone from time to time that would take your breath away- mostly because he so seldom insulted anyone or made a critical remark. Bill was extremely proud of his six grandchildren, Travis, Eric, Katie, Emily, Brittany, Ethan and his five great grandchildren, Katie, Isabella, Millie, Coley and Jude. They were appreciated for their own special talents and individuality. They brought much joy and happiness to Bill and his gentle, kindness will be with them always. Bill is survived by his wife, Sharon, son Gene ( Julie ), sister Mary Ann Horn (Merle). In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org or your charity of choice.