William O. “Bill” Packer of Harrisville died on Saturday, August 22 after battling a recent illness. Bill was born on May 11, 1945, to William A. and Lucie Packer. He was a lifelong resident of the family farm, where he still resided, and operated Packers Orchard.

Bill is survived by the love of his life, Martha Lou Rinkes. They were high school sweethearts who married on June 24, 1967. He is also survived by his children Gayle of Lenexa, KS; Brent (Jara) of Dublin, Ohio; Julie of Harrisville; his grandchildren (who were is pride and joy) Addie Erwin, Owen Packer, Gavin Packer and Alexis Erwin; his sisters, Carol (Jim) of Canfield and Jane (John) of Columbus; many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins and so many other friends who he treated like his family.

Bill graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1963 and from The Ohio State University, College of Agriculture in 1969 with a major in Horticulture. He returned to the farm. Then in 1974, he earned his teaching certificate and taught at Licking County JVS and served as the FFA advisor for two years. In 1976, he became a full partner to Packers Orchard with his father and has owned and operated the farm and market until he died.

A hard-working man, Bill was employed by Tastee Apple Company for four years and then went on to serve as the Field Representative for Greenstar Cooperative for twenty years, where he could be found visiting growers across northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania, and consulting with them about their orchards. He developed a reputation as the man you would call when you just didn’t know what else to do. People trusted Bill for his integrity and his practical advice.

Bill has been an active member of his church, the community and a steward of agriculture throughout his life. Bill was an elder of the Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church where he was a past Sunday school teacher, and a member of the Adena Lions Club. He is a past 4-H advisor, past district supervisor for the Soil and Water Conservation District, a member of Jefferson County Farm Bureau, Farmers and Friends Council member, and former Farm Bureau Youth advisor. He is a member and served as a past secretary for the Ohio Fruit Growers Association and a member of the Pennsylvania Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association.

Weekends in late summer and fall, he could still be found in the market talking to customers and making sure that everyone was doing things right, including making sure that market customers felt like they had a great experience.

Visitation will be Thursday, August 27, from 4-8 at Wilson Funeral Home 154 Second Street Dillonvale, Ohio. Funeral services will be Friday, August 28, at 11 a.m. at the Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church, where the family will be receiving visitors at 10 a.m. Bill will be laid to eternal rest at Olive Branch Cemetery in Harrisville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church, 123 Union Street, Mt. Pleasant, Ohio 43939.

To leave the family a condolence please visit www.wilsonfuneralhomes.com