- Date Of Death: July 13, 2014
- State: Pennsylvania
William L. Vitez, 94, of Bethlehem, passed away Sunday, July 13, 2014 at St. Luke’s Hospital. He was the husband of the late Mary G. (Gorcsan) Vitez, who died in 2005. Born in Bethlehem, he was the son of the late Joseph and Mary (Koczen) Vitez. Bill graduated from Liberty High School in 1937 where he was a member of the wrestling team. In 1939, he earned the title of Lehigh Valley Amateur Wrestling Champion. He served his country during World War II in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theatre. Bill was a motor and furnace inspector for Bethlehem Steel for 43 years, until retiring in 1983. Bill was a lifelong member of St. John’s Windish Lutheran Church in Bethlehem. He shared his love of sports by serving as a manager for North Central Little League for 4 years and also coached wrestling at West Bethlehem Youth Association. Bill was a charter member of the Bethlehem/Murska Sobota Sister Cities Association and a member of the Steelworkers’ Archives. Survivors: daughter, Susan L. Vitez of Bethlehem; son, William D. Vitez, wife Maria and their daughter, Lauren of Gwynedd Valley, Pa.; brother-in-law, John Gorcsan, Jr. and his wife, Lucy, as well as nieces and nephews and relatives in Slovenia. Bill was preceded in death by brother, Stephen and his wife, Mary.
