William A. “Bill” Mordica Jr., 80, of Ashland, Ky., died Wednesday, July 12, 2006, in Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital following a long illness.
Bill was born Oct. 28, 1925, in Pikeville, Ky., a son of the late William and Eva Wellman Mordica. He was preceded in death by a son, John Andrew Mordica.
He attended Pikeville Public Schools through the eighth grade and moved to Ashland with his family in 1940, graduating from Ashland High School in 1944.
Bill enlisted in the Army Air Corps and became a rear gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber, flying missions from Italy to Germany with the 15th Army Air Force. His plane went down behind enemy lines in Yugoslavia as a result of a mid-air collision and he was one of four surviving crew members who made it back to friendly lines, sleeping in haystacks and barns and traveling by night.
He was awarded the Air Medal with two clusters, the Purple Heart and the European Theater Operations ribbon with six battle stars.
He attended the University of Kentucky and the Ashland School of Business.
He served as an Ashland city commissioner for 18 years, being elected nine times and serving with five mayors and 15 different commissioners. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ashland for 66 years and a member of the Poage Sunday School class.
Bill was a past Potentate of the El Hasa Shrine and a lifetime member of the Ashland Commandery No. 28, a member of the Apperson Chapter No. 81, Everett Council No. 65, and Poage Lodge No. 325. He was a charter member of the Royal Order of Jesters, a life member of VFW Post 15018, D.A.V. No. 149, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the 15th Air Force Association, American Legion Post 76, Elks Lodge 350, a Kentucky colonel and a member of the Caterpillar Club and the NRA.
He served on the committee that started and organized Little League baseball in Ashland, serving as president of the Ashland National League and in other capacities for the league. He also helped the Optimist Club in starting the Junior Football League program. He served on the original four-man committee which organized Elks Sports Day, giving recognition to outstanding athletes from the Ashland area on an annual basis.
He served as a high school and college football official for 30 years, working primarily in the Ohio Valley Conference. He also worked games in the SEC, MAC, Southern, Big 10 and Missouri Valley conferences. He was one of the organizers of the Shrine College Football game held for 14 years in Putnam Stadium.
With his wife, Janis, Bill organized and helped operate the Tri-State Road Runners Travel Club with over 200 members who have traveled all over the world and to all 50 states.
He retired with over 32 years of service in sales from Colgate-Palmolive Co.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Janis Burke Mordica of Ashland; a son, William A. Mordica III and his wife, Karen, of Mount Pleasant, Mich.; and two sisters, Elizabeth Mullins and Dorothy Lee Cox, both of Madisonville, Ky.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church in Ashland with Dr. Richard Smith and the Rev. Charles E. Stewart officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Burial Park.
There will be no visitation. In lieu of flowers, friends may make contributions to First Presbyterian Church, 1600 Winchester Ave., Ashland, KY 41101.
The American Legion Post 93 of Kenova, W.Va., will conduct a military service at graveside.
