Sunbury, Pennsylvania - William G. McLeod "Bill" went home to be with his Savior and Lord on April 30, 2025, at home.

Bill was born on July 9, 1937, in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of the late Henry and Mary (Frost) McLeod.

The family moved to New Jersey in 1940. Bill attended the public schools in Newark, New Jersey, and graduated from West Side High School. Bill played baseball in high school and had a tryout at Ebbets Field with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

After high school he worked for General Motors and later at the New Jersey Bell Telephone Company where he met the love of his life, Lois Van Houten. They celebrated 62 years of marriage. Bill often said, "God gave him the greatest gift when he gave him Lois."

Bill graduated from Kean University (Newark State College) with a B.A. degree in Elementary Education in 1965 and M.A. degree in administration and supervision in 1967.

He taught in Newark from 1964 to 1968 and in South Plainfield, N.J., from 1968 to 1979. During those years he also taught Sunday School and worked with the youth at Woodside Chapel in Scotch Plains, N.J.

In 1979 Bill was called to be the administrator of the Sunbury Christian Academy. He served there from 1979 to 1998 first on the Island, then in 1990 S.C.A relocated to Route 11 in Northumberland.

During his "retirement" years he continued to teach a mens Sunday School Class and served as the Minister of Visitation for Sunbury Bible Church.

He also worked with Susquehanna Limousine Service from 1999 to 2013. He met many people from various walks of life and from a wide range of the U.S.A. and other parts of the world. The interesting conversations made for many enjoyable trips.

From 1997 to the present, Bill wrote hundreds of Christian lyrics.

Skip Kline, of Beavertown, was a great mentor and musical partner. Bill gave Skip a great deal of credit for teaching him the "art" of writing lyrics.

Brian Reed, of Franklin, Tenn., also encouraged Bill to write lyrics. Ricky Murphy, of Sunbury, added a new dimension with musical arrangements and recording of Bill's songs.

Dave Jani, formally of Riverside, co-wrote a number of Christian songs with Bill. Also, Saxon Brown of Bel Aire, Md., composed music for many of Bill's lyrics. Bill Dee of Nashville, Tenn., was a great help to Bill in writing lyrics.

Bill is survived by his wife Lois; his daughter Laura, his son William Jr., and his son Craig W. and daughter-in-law Brenda; his grandchildren, Elizabeth, Rebecca and grandson-in-law Scooter; Rory and Max and a great-granddaughter on the way.

Bill loved his family and loved to be with them. Bill is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Family vacations to either Fenwick Island, Del., and Cape Cod, Mass., were the highlights of each summer for Bill, Lois, their children and grandchildren.

Service for Bill will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Sunbury Bible Church, Route 11, Northumberland Pa. Visitation will be open from 9 to 11 a.m.

Burial will be at the Riverview Cemetery in Northumberland, Pa.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bill's memory may be made to the Sunbury Bible Church. 135 Spruce Hollow Drive, Northumberland, PA, 17857.

Arrangements are by the Joseph W. Epler Funeral Home, 210 King St., Northumberland.