William R. "Bill" Book, 68, of Willow Street, died Monday, January 9, 2012, at Hershey Medical Center. Born in Leola, he was the son of the late Raymond and Mary Pauline Buckwalter Book. Bill was the companion of Nancy C. Zahm for the last 24 years.

He served in the US Army as a parachute packer with the 744 ^th QM Det SETAF in Italy right before the Vietnam War. Bill worked as a tool and die maker for the NTN-BCA Corporation in Lititz for 34 years.

He was a member of the American Legion Dagsboro Post #24, Dagsboro, DE, and the AMVETS Post 19, Lancaster. An avid Flyers and hockey fan, Bill continued playing ice hockey with the Old Timers Mixed Nuts Hockey League up until his illness.  He also enjoyed boating and fishing on the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean.

Surviving Bill are his companion Nancy Zahm and her children Timothy and Karen of Florida and John of Marietta; his siblings Raymond, husband of Janice Book of Akron, Gerald Book of Ephrata and Carol Shank of Rothsville; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Visitation will take place Friday, January 13, 2012, from 6-7 PM, and the Memorial Service at 7 PM with the Rev. Mark J. Thiboldeaux officiating and honors accorded by the Red Rose Veterans Honor Guard, at the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA. Interment will be private. Please omit flowers. Contributions can be made in Bill's memory to the American Heart Association, Lancaster Chapter, 610 Community Way, Lancaster, PA 17603, or The American Diabetes Association, 3544 N. Progress Ave., Suite 101, Harrisburg, PA 17110. To send the family online condolences, please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 717-560-5100