William Metzger

William Metzger led a great life. He was one of six children and his father’s name’s sake. He went to Central Catholic High School where he was a jock and was the first person at Central High to score a basket on television. He was also first string in football and an all-around stud. After high school he was drafted into the Army for the Korean War, front line infantry. On his way to Korea by ship, a cease-fire was declared and he never had to see battle. He said Korea turned into a party instead of a war. After the army he met the love of his life, Mary Lu Calloway. They were married and had 6 children together. During his family years he would always be home at 5 PM sharp for dinner that was waiting for him on the table. Mary Lu was happy to do this after all she did not work full-time and 6 kids weren’t that much to take care of for her; she was a natural. After dinner he would have time for himself, such as a pickup basketball game with his children, handball on Tuesday, Flying Tigers Club meeting on Thursday and the weekends were for flying model airplanes. Oh, and Sunday he would cook breakfast for the family and then take them to the 11 AM mass. Bill worked for Ohio Bell for most of his career. He started out as a lineman and after a couple of years, he had an accident at home and broke his arm. This “bad fortune” landed him an inside job where he would hook up phones in a central office. No more poles to climb! When the office was computerized, he still worked there… Sorta. With the computers, there wasn’t much to do but to be there in case something broke. He would come home and tell stories about how he set up an exercise area and about the ping pong matches that he and his friends had. After 10 years or so of this, he was bored and AT+T (who bought Ohio Bell) offered him a buy out and he retired at 59 and 1/2 years old. He never had to work again. This allowed him time to travel, fly planes and just live the good life. Bill has been rejoined with the love of his life Mary Lu, his parents William and Gladys, and his four siblings Joanne DeFord, Jim, Beatrice(Pete) Schabel and John. He is survived by his sister Gladys Pierson; his children, Karen (Daniel) St. Johns, Ronald, William (Kimberly), Kenneth (Kimber), Jill (Jeffrey) Nation, and Janel (Thomas) Eichenlaub; his 12 grandchildren, Tony, Jason, Kelly, Zachary, Ryan, Ashley, Mallory, Maddie, Em, Matt, Tommy, and Alexis; his 6 great-grandchildren, Bryce, Caiden, Vienna, Liliana, Harper and Ellie and many nieces, nephews and extended family. Friends will be received at Walker Funeral Home, Oregon Chapel, 3500 Navarre Ave. Oregon, Ohio on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, from 2:00 PM-8:00 PM. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, November 24, 2021, at 11:00 AM in the funeral home with burial to follow at Restlawn Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio. Online condolences may be left at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com