William Hochella

William “Bill” Hochella passed on July 24, 2015 at Saucon Valley Manor in the presence of family and friends. He was born on August 5, 1923 to Andrew and Mary Chopko Hochella of Bethlehem, PA. William married Pauline Theresa Deutsch of Nazareth on August 2, 1947. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, his sisters, Helen, Mary, Margaret and Elizabeth and his brothers, Joseph and John. He is survived by his son, William A. and his daughter-in-law, Janet Nupp, both of Coatesville, PA and his grandson, William E. of Stafford, TX.

Bill graduated from Liberty High School in 1941 where he excelled in football, basketball and baseball. He then attended Blair Academy and entered Clemson University in the Fall of 1942. In January 1943 he enlisted in the Navys V-12 program and attended Muhlenberg College. He was commissioned an Ensign in October 1944 at Notre Dame University.

Upon commissioning he was assigned to LST 1108 where he served as Deck Officer, XO and Captain. LST 1108 served in the Philippine and Okinawa campaigns and after the war transported Japanese prisoners of war and Korean slave labor to their homeland. LST 1108 was also instrumental in the evacuation of the inhabitants of Bikini Island in preparation of the Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests. William was discharged from the Navy in 1947.

Upon graduation from Moravian College in 1948, he was employed as a Manufacturing Supervisor by the Roller-Smith Company and then a Senior Staff Accountant at Bethlehem Steel Company until his retirement in 1983.

Services will be private and at the convenience of the family.

Memorial contributions may be made in Bills name to the charity of the donors choice.

Funeral HomeConnell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA - 18018
US
610-868-8531