William “Bill” Bernard Planey of Plano, Texas passed away on May 8, 2020 at the age of 86. He was born at home on October 7, 1933 to Wasil and Ella (Fritz) Planey in Ashley, Pennsylvania. Bill was a first generation American whose father immigrated from Czechoslovakia in 1927. He graduated from Ashley High School in 1951 where he played baseball and basketball. While growing up in Ashley, he held several odd jobs. He worked as a machine operator at the former Herman Funke Quilting Mill; a pin boy at Ashley Bowl and would pick coal for his family after school and during the summer months.
He was an engineering graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y., where he played baseball and also captained the basketball team in his senior year. After graduation, Bill proudly served his country in the United States Navy and was stationed in San Diego. He spent time in many countries including Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.
He met his soulmate and love of his life Lorraine Helen Eisenbach at RCA where he worked as an engineer. They married in 1961 and celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary last year. They moved many times over the years as Bill pursued his career. They moved from Mountain Top, Pennsylvania to Phoenix and Tempe, Arizona to Dallas and Corpus Christi, Texas, Eatontown, New Jersey, and then finally back to the Dallas area.
Bill played an important engineering role in the development of the semiconductor industry, and holds three patents for key technical innovations in design and manufacturing. He worked at RCA, Motorola, Texas Instruments, Mostek, and The Thomas Group; as well as in many other consulting and start-up ventures until he retired in 2005.
Bill and Lorraine were members of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Dallas where they met lifelong friends. He spent many years in league bowling with his special friends and involved in numerous volunteer activities including the annual St. Patrick Church Carnival. He was a faithful member of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church after moving to Plano in 1999.
He is survived by his beloved family: son, Bill Planey and wife, Masha of Dallas, Texas; daughter, Annette Planey of Plano, Texas; daughter, Jackie Martin and husband, Ken of Grapevine, Texas; son, Doug Planey and wife, Misty of Allen, Texas; daughter, Jennifer Moll and husband, Justin of Orlando, Florida; grandchildren, Alexander Martin, William Planey, Andrew Martin, Zachary Planey, Michael Loukoshkov, Adrienne Martin, Ava Planey, Malane Planey, Makenna Planey and Liza Pavlova; sisters, Betty Schultz of Jacksonville, Florida and Joanne Barna of Westland, Michigan and and a host of other loving family and friends, especially his nephew and close friend Ted Eisenbach.
Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Lorraine Planey of 58 years; parents Wasil and Ella Planey, step-brother, John Planey and step-sister, Mary Ballard.
His proudest accomplishments, however, and for what he will be most remembered, were his love and devotion to his wife and family, his strong faith, his sense of humor and his ability to fix things. He enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s school and sporting events, bowling and going to the casino with his wife and friends. He will be dearly missed.
A Holy Rosary and a Funeral Mass followed by a committal service in the columbarium at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 1201 Alma Drive, Plano, Texas 75075 with a reception to follow in the Parish Center across the street at 1105 West 15th Street, Plano, Texas, 75075 will be held at a later date.
Memorial donations may be made to American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 15829, Arlington, VA 22215