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William N. "Bill" Bratton Jr., 88, of Mifflintown, passed away peacefully at Locust Grove Retirement Village on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024.
Bill was born in Mifflintown on Oct. 31, 1935, and was the son of William N. Bratton Sr., and Eleanor F. (Bender) Bratton. He graduated from Juniata Joint High School, Mifflintown in 1953 and then went on to serve in the United States Navy. He was a pipefitter on both the USS Worcester in 1956 and the USS Helena in 1957. After being discharged from the Navy, he married Alinda L. Kirk of East Waterford in 1960.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Alinda L. Bratton; daughters, Wendy B. Diem (Rich), of Lancaster, Brenda J. Koser (Seth), of Thompsontown, and Karen L. Barnes (Jamie), of Thompsontown. He is also survived by his six grandchildren, Bill Barnes (Chelsea), of Newport, Tom Barnes (Hayley), of Thompsontown, Lydia Koser and Annika Koser, both of Thompsontown, and Patrick Diem and Caroline Diem, both of Lancaster, along with two great-grandchildren, Rhett Barnes of Newport, and Hadley Barnes, of Thompsontown.
He is also survived by his siblings, Nancy Brothers of Mifflin, Betsy Ramsey of Mifflintown, and Donald Bratton (Esther) of Mifflintown.
He began his 33-year career with PP&L in 1962 as a laborer, then progressed through the company as a lineman, lineman leader, and ended his career as a service dispatcher for the Harrisburg Division.
Bill was a very talented woodworker and painter, always having some sort of project in the works. He was an avid golfer and could be found frequently at Lost Creek Golf Course in Oakland Mills. On May 26, 2006, he had a hole-in-one at Lost Creek Golf Course! Bill was an active amateur radio operator for over 40 years and had the privilege of talking with thousands of people from all over the world. Every November he was excited to spend time deer hunting with his brother in Licking Creek or his brothers-in-laws in East Waterford. During the summer months, Indian River, Delaware was his favorite place to be fishing the day away. He was especially happy to have his family join him and Alinda at the beach. He also loved attending his grandchildren's various sports activities, dance shows and birthday parties.
Bill was a member of the Mifflintown Lions Club, PP&L Live Wires, Juniata County Sportsmen's Association, and the Tuscarora Amateur Radio Association.
Funeral srvices will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, at the Brown Funeral Homes Inc., 100 Bridge St., Mifflintown with Pastor Donald Walters officiating. Interment will follow at Westminster Presbyterian Cemetery, Mifflintown where full military burial honors will be accorded by the Juniata County Veterans Council.
A viewing will be held from 1 p.m. until the time of the funeral services at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Mr. Bratton's memory to either the Tuscarora Amateur Radio Association, P.O. Box 281, Mifflintown, PA 17059 or to the Mifflintown Lions Club, c/o Andrew Winder, 44 Farmers Lane, Mifflintown, PA 17059.
Online condolences and tributes can be shared with the family at www.brownfuneralhomesinc.com.