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Gerald Eugene Bills, 93, of St. Marys, WV, was received into the loving arms of his heavenly Father Saturday, July 8, 2023, at home with loved ones.
He was born, April 25, 1950, on Henry Camp in Pleasants County, WV. A son of the late Clarence E. and Mildred Virginia Haddox Bills. He was a 1947 graduate of St. Marys High School and a 1951 graduate of West Virginia University, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma International Fraternity.
Gerald was a Commissioned Officer, Lieutenant Junior Grade in the United States Navy, where he served in the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1955 but remained in the Naval Reserves until July 1, 1959,. After the military, he was employed by NCR (National Cash Register Company) and then with IBM until his retirement in 1994. While at IBM he was a lead project manager for developing the GPS System in the 1970s.
Gerald was a longtime member of the St. Marys Presbyterian Church, where he was an elder. Gerald was an avid history buff. He was the former President of the Pleasants County Historical Society, which allowed him to fulfill his passion for local history. He was extremely honored to accept the award for West Virginia History Hero in 2007. He enjoyed locating and marking the graves of military veterans in cemeteries in Pleasants and surrounding counties with his brother, John. He would spend hours researching family histories and tracing their lineage.
Gerald was a proud supporter of the St. Marys End Zone Club. He was a dedicated Mountaineer fan and thoroughly enjoyed taking high school football players to the games for many years. He also supported WVU Alumni Association and the Pleasants County 4-H. He loved spending time with his family, the Historical Society Family, his church family, friends, and especially his grandchildren.
Gerald is survived by his children, Gerald F. Bills (Eugenia of Edison, NJ, George F. Bills (Shiela) of Frankfort, KY, Loretta Tall (Tony) of Melbourne, FL, Eileen Cannon (Pat) of Cedarburg, WI, Jennings Illar (Christy) of St. Marys, WV; one brother John R. Bills, and one sister, Mary Sue Ross both of St. Marys; 11 grandchildren, Denver Bills, Louie and Trevor Rizzuto, Derek (Stephanie), Tyler (Meghan), Megan and Jack Cannon, Evan, Justin, Eric, and Brady Illar; 2 great grandchildren, Serena and Rylie Cannon; numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Katerina Illar Bills; 3 brothers, Larry C. Bills, Chester A. Bills, and Franklin D. Bills; 2 sisters, Helen Bills Hammett and Anna L. Cunningham; one son Paul Bills; and Caroline Pickering Bills (the mother of Gerald, George (Frank), and Paul).
The family would like to give special thanks to three special ladies who became our family while they cared for and loved Gerald and us, this past year: Corleen Riggs, Sonya Childers, and Tina Pinkerton.
Services will be held Saturday, July 15, 2023, at 1 p.m. at the St. Marys Presbyterian Church in St. Marys, WV, with Pastor Kay Larsen officiating. Interment will be in the Bills Cemetery in Calcutta, Pleasants County, WV, with military rites. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Ingram Funeral Home in St. Marys, WV, from 12 to 1 p.m. Saturday at the church.
In lieu of Flowers, donations may be made to the Pleasants County Historical Society, P. O. Box 335, St. Marys, WV 26170, in Gerald's memory.
An online guest register is available at www.ingramfh.com.