William J. Kopchick, 91, of Economy, passed away on January 27th, 2025.

He was born in Punxsatawney, Pennsylvania on May 1st, 1933, a son of the late Michael and Anna Kopchick. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, Michael, Peter, Nick and Steve and four sisters, Mary Kovalyak, Anne Chemsak, Helen Kosinski, and Margaret Konarski. He is survived by his wife Sonia (Popovich) Kopchick, his son, William, his wife, Deborah, their two daughters Emily and Mary, son Michael D. Kopchick, his brother John Kopchick, and many nieces and nephews.

William graduated from Ambridge High School in 1951. He proudly served his country as a Corporal in the U.S. Army and achieved a bachelor’s degree in industrial arts from California State College in 1955. At California State, he was member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and held lead roles in several college theatrical productions.  Ultimately, he attained a Master’s Degree in Education from West Virginia University in 1960.

William was a career Educator in Beaver County as a long time Industrial Arts Teacher in both the Ambridge and Blackhawk School Districts. During the summers, he was a Guidance Counselor at Penn State Beaver Campus for matriculating students. He was a Guidance Counselor in the Blackhawk School District during the 1980’s and 1990’s, retiring in 1995.

William was a member of St. John’s Orthodox Church in Ambridge having served as Church President in the mid 1970’s and greatly enjoyed singing liturgical responses during services. He immensely enjoyed gardening and was a prolific giver of his excess produce.  He was an avid golfer where he lettered during college and won a Beaver County Senior Open Title.  He also enjoyed hunting with his sons and friends, neighborhood gatherings ranging from bible study to happy hour, and workout times with his buddies at the Cranberry YMCA. He met Sonia (Popovich), his wife of sixty-five years, while attending California State and they very proudly enjoyed raising their two sons in Economy.

Visitation will take place on Thursday, January 30th from 4-6 P.M. in the John Syka Funeral Home, 833 Kennedy Drive, Ambridge, where a funeral service will be held on Friday, January 31st at 1 P.M.  Interment will follow in the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies at 2:30 P.M. with full military honors.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to St. John’s Orthodox Church, 450 Glenwood Drive Ambridge, PA 15003.