Obituary of William A. Staats

William A. Staats, 87, formerly of Dunellen, died at the Valley View Nursing Home in Frenchtown on March 25, 2010. He was the son of the late Alexander and Mary Staats formerly of South Plainfield and brother of the late, Charles, Anthony, Michael, Edward, George, John, Joseph, Elizabeth, Irene and Peter. Bill was also predeceased by his loving wife, Teresa (Gartland) Staats who died in 1983. He is survived by their son, William M. Staats and daughter-in-law, Maryjane Staats of Annandale and his three grandchildren, Paul, Kevin and Susan Staats. He is also survived by his remaining sister, Margaret (Staats) Sheldon of South Plainfield. At 16 years old Mr. Staats was a Golden Gloves boxing champion. He attended North Plainfield High School and for many years was a volunteer Fireman in South Plainfield. He worked for a total of 19 years at Mack trucks in Plainfield and Bridgewater, being interrupted during that time by military service. In 1943 he served our nation in World War II as a navigator, bombardier and gunner in the US Army's 8th Air Force aboard B-24 Liberators and B-17 Flying Fortresses. Based in England, he flew 30 combat missions at a time when the 8th Air Force suffered massive loss of bomber crews. His first two missions were on D-Day and his last mission ended supporting troops during The Battle of the Bulge. He and his crew were shot down twice and he was awarded the Army's Distinguished Flying Cross. During his service, the Staats family had six sons, all serving our armed forces over seas at the same time. Following WWII, Bill was a founding member of the South Plainfield VFW, played semi-pro football and later was a Dunellen Little League coach and Dunellen-Green Brook Pop Warner football coach. He ended his working years in the heating and air conditioning field. Bill loved fishing, his country, his many friends, his Roman Catholic faith, his family and the many caregivers who assisted him. Friends may visit with the family, today, March 26, 2010 from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. at the Kearns Funeral Home, 103 Old Highway 28, Whitehouse. A funeral liturgy will be celebrated on Saturday, March 27, 2009 at 9:30 A.M. at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Pittstown, NJ. www.stcatherineofsienarcc.org . In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hunerdon Hospice, 2100 Wescott Drive, Flemington, NJ 08822. For more information or to send condolences please visit, www.kearnsfuneralhome.com. .