William A. Doyle

William A. Doyle, Longtime funeral director in Westfield and Cranford

William A. Doyle, 89, of Cranford, passed away peacefully on November 5, 2019 at his home following a brief illness. Bill's Visitation will be Friday November 8th from 4:00-9:00PM at Gray Memorial Funeral Home, 12 Springfield Ave., Cranford. His funeral mass will be celebrated at 9:45am Saturday, November 9, 2019 at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 332 Madison Hill Rd., Clark. Interment with military honors will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. Please go to: www.grayfuneralhomes.com to offer condolences. Bill was a longtime funeral director, and manager with Gray Funeral Homes of Westfield and Cranford, where he worked for more than 60 years. Born in Newark to the late James and Elizabeth Fox Doyle, he was a graduate of St. Benedict's Preparatory School, and the McAllister School of Mortuary Science in New York. A veteran of the US Navy during the Korean War, Bill was transferred to the US Marines, 1st Division in Korea, where he was a Corpsman. He later transferred to the Naval Hospital in Japan, where he worked until 1955. Bill was a Past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council #1711, Westfield, Past Faithful Navigator of the Knights of Columbus Watchung Assembly #672 of the 4th Degree, and Past Chapter Chairman of the NJ Knights of Columbus Chapter #1. He served on the board of the Westfield Senior Housing Authority, and was the Delegate at Large with the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association. Bill was a past president of the Essex, Union and West Hudson Funeral Directors Association, and the Westfield Lions Club. He was the beloved husband of 62 years of the late Alice Mae (Vermilyea) Doyle, and was also preceded in death by his young son Patrick Doyle, and his brother: Brother Walter Doyle, S.J. He is survived by daughter: Carol Dinsmore and husband Robert, son: William Doyle and wife Claudia, son: James Doyle and wife Linda, daughter: Kathleen Dinsmore, son: Thomas Doyle and wife Rose, son: Timothy Doyle, son: Mark Doyle and wife Veronica, 15 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, sister: Claire Doyle Smith, nieces and nephews.