William J. Aitchison

William Jeffrey (Bill) Aitchison, 95, of New Castle passed away on Monday, August 7, 2017 at The Waters of New Castle. The only son of the late William and Josephine (Jeffrey) Aitchison, Bill was born on April 20, 1922, in New Castle, Indiana.

He was proud graduate of New Castle High School’s Class of 1940 and attended Purdue University’s School of Mechanical Engineering before being drafted in September, 1942. He served his country as a member of the U.S. Army during WWII. On August 10, 1944, Bill married his high school sweetheart, Phyllis Ray, at the First Presbyterian Church in New Castle and she followed him to his posting at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. The couple returned to New Castle upon his honorable discharge on December 1, 1944, and Bill began a long career as an engineer at Ingersoll Steel.

Bill and Phyllis enjoyed travel, particularly to Canada, Scotland and Belgium to visit members of their extended families. Following his retirement in 1978, he and Phyllis joined New Castle’s “Southbound Seniors” and loved wintering in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, over the next 23 years.

Bill is survived by his son, William R. (Teri) Aitchison of New Castle; four grandsons: Dr. William Brian Aitchison of Dayton, OH, Patrick Aitchison of Portland, OR, John (Lindsay) Aitchison of Seabrook, TX, and CPT (U.S. Army) Paul (Jena) Aitchison, currently posted in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Three great grandchildren: Titus, Ainsley and Sydney Aitchison, all of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and a nephew, Charles E. (Chuck) Waggoner, Jr. of New Castle.
He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 69 years, Phyllis Ray Aitchison, his parents, and a sister, Elsa Caroline (Sister Josephine) Aitchison. Bill was an 84-year member of the First Presbyterian Church.

Services will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday, August 11, 2017 at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle with Reverends Alan McCraine and Arthur Whitaker officiating. A private burial will follow at South Mound Cemetery. Friends may call from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Military honors will be conducted by contingents of the VFW, American Legion and the United State Army.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the New Castle Alumni Association Fund administered through the Henry County Community Foundation, 700 S. Memorial Drive, PO Box 6006, New Castle, IN 47362. You may express condolences or share a memory of Bill at www.hinsey-brown.com .