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Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Thursday, June 30, 2016 from 4-8 PM and Friday, July 1, 2016 from 10:00 to 11:30 AM. A Funeral Service and Military Honors Ceremony will immediately follow the Friday morning visiting and begin at 11:30 AM at the funeral home.
Wilber S. Myers, “Coach” age 87, of Wayne, passed peacefully on Monday, June 27, 2016.
Born in 1928 and raised in Yukon, PA, the son of the late Mary and Steven Myers, Wilber first tasted athletic success in high school football, basketball and baseball while working in the coal mines and lumber yards. After graduating from South Huntington High School in Pennsylvania with the Class of 1946, he immediately pursued and, in 1951, earned his B.S. degree in Health and Physical Education from Slippery Rock College in the town in Pennsylvania that bears the colleges name. While there, he discovered his skill of soccer, also dabbling in semi-professional soccer, baseball, basketball and bowling.
Immediately after earning his bachelor’s degree and drawing upon his athletic experiences, the U.S Army was the place where Will really put his leadership skills and courage on the line. Serving as a platoon sergeant with the 7th Infantry Division in the Korean War, he valiantly served on the front lines, losing his hearing in one ear due to an explosion. For his bravery Will was awarded three Bronze Service Stars, the Combat Infantry Badge, U.N. Service Metal, and the Good Conduct Medal. In all, he served from 1951 to 1953 and then until 1959 in the U.S. Army Reserves where he was a judo instructor.
Upon his return home to the U.S. and civilian life, Will was accepted into the master’s program at Penn State University. There he earned his Master’s degree in Physical Education and, as part of that pursuit, spent a summers in attendance at Alfred University, NY and Indiana University.
Mr. Myers first job was as a physical education teacher with Elkland High School in Elkland, PA. He taught there for 7 years. During his time at Elkland, he met his wife Helena. They were blessed with three children: Weldon, Tammy, and Steven.
By now, Will was known and referred to as “Coach” by anyone who knew him. He turned the page and began the next chapter in his life when he embarked on a new roll with William Paterson College – known today as William Paterson University. Coach served in numerous rolls as Director of Athletics, Director of Intramurals, Head Coach of the school’s golf program where teams under his leadership won ten division championships, J.V. Basketball Coach, Baseball Coach and, most important to him, Head Coach of WPC’s soccer program. Throughout his soccer coaching career, his William Paterson Pioneer teams won numerous NCAA titles and multiple alumni under his program were honored with induction into the college’s Hall of Fame. If the subject of athletics and health came up at William Paterson College, you could be sure that Coach Myers was part of the conversation. He also served there as Professor of Health and Physical Education and taught many health-related courses including first aid, CPR, and Red Cross courses. Even Coach Myer’s daughter Tammy took one of his classes and has good memories of some of the concepts she learned from her dad that she still uses to this day in her career as a registered nurse. Coach’s career with WPC spanned 25 years, from 1962 to 1987 and he always considered it a great joy and honor to go to work. Those that served under Coach Myers were well-aware of his competitive nature and that playing for him was not going to be easy. Some can remember the years of the moped craze in NJ. Coach bought a moped too and drove it to campus every day. He also used it to chase the players as he made them run all over the college’s campus as part of their training regimen. Coach inspired them to work hard for the victory and he enjoyed the utmost respect from his players and colleagues. He was a regular speaker at numerous sports banquets and award dinners and, during summers, he ran soccer and swimming day camps, some in New York State where he drove the bus full of sports campers himself. He was also heavily involved in the WPC Special Olympics program where he was instrumental in establishing the sport of soccer as one of the Special Olympic events. Maintaining his connection with the university as a member of the Retired Faculty Committee, Coach could always be found among the spectators at school sports events.
When Coach wasn’t at work, he loved spending time at home in his gardens. He designed and planted them himself, building rock walls with boulders he took home from the woods around William Paterson College. What a sight to see him driving home from school, his trunk full of rocks to build those walls, causing the back end of his car to drag dangerously low to the ground. With a degree in botany, the gardens around his house would have given NY Botanical Gardens a run for their money. Coach also regularly enjoyed playing golf at the Passaic County Golf course and with his buddies at the North Jersey Country Club. You could never keep his competitive nature down so he also bowled in competitive leagues at T-Bowl of Wayne and traditionally returned to Elkland High School in Pennsylvania to take part in the annual national softball championship.
Music was a big part of Will’s life too, and he especially enjoyed polkas, big band, country and popular music from the 1950’s. An accomplished dancer, he and his companion Helena Congers were regulars on the dance floor at lunches held at the Paterson Brownstone House which were sponsored by the Old Timers Association. They also danced at VFW, American Legion, and Wayne Golden Ager functions. Even playing cards, an activity the Coach enjoyed on a weekly basis with family and friends, he always wanted to win.
Above all pursuits and pleasures of life, nothing was more important to Coach than his family. He and his friend Helena always looked forward to visiting his sister Lillian in Florida and he adored the ground his grandchildren walked on. When they were toddlers, he’d, get right down on that ground to play with them and wow them with his animal impersonations. Ask any of those grandchildren about their favorite memory of Pops and they’ll more-than-likely tell you the story about the time the whole family gathered up at Coach’s son Weldon’s house in New York State. It’s lucky, Coach survived that weekend. First, a carpet tile sample, sitting unsecured on the front rack of an ATV, blew up into Coach’s face causing a deep gash. Next, while playing horseshoes, he dislocated his shoulder. He moved on from there to take the kids berry picking and promptly fell face-first into a blueberry patch with lots of thistles. That night, while sitting by the fire, the wind blew causing sparks to fly toward his face. That was the last straw! He got up and exclaimed, “I gotta go home.” Despite that particularly unfortunate weekend, there were plenty of great memories with family at Weldon’s house. While all the adults would stay in the house, Pops always chose to be in the camping trailer with his grandchildren.
Until about a year ago, Coach still worked out about three times a week, regularly mixing swimming and biking into that exercise regimen.
Wilber is survived by his two dear sons: Weldon Myers of Wayne, and Steven and wife Audrey Myers of Lake Hiawatha; his dear daughter Tammy Poshkus of New Hyde Park, NY; five adored grandchildren: Jessica Myers, Kimberly Myers, Steven Myers, Michael Poshkus, and Jennifer Poshkus; two cherished great-grandchildren: Dante Ferreria and Madison Myers; his dear sister Lillian and husband Louis Calpey of Winter Park, FL; his much-loved companion Helena Congers of Wayne; and multiple nieces, nephews, and close friends. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his dear sister Anna Marie Myers.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Wilber Myers' name are asked to consider the William Paterson University Foundation, Scholarships, 300 Pompton Road, Wayne, NJ 07470 or by clicking on the following link below (Make sure you include Wilber's name in comment section):
William Paterson Scholarship Foundation
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Thursday, June 30, 2016 from 4-8 PM and Friday, July 1, 2016 from 10:00 to 11:30 AM. A Funeral Service and Military Honors Ceremony will immediately follow the Friday morning visiting and begin at 11:30 AM at the funeral home.
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Thursday, June 30, 2016 from 4-8 PM and Friday, July 1, 2016 from 10:00 to 11:30 AM. A Funeral Service and Military Honors Ceremony will immediately follow the Friday morning visiting and begin at 11:30 AM at the funeral home.
Wilber S. Myers, “Coach” age 87, of Wayne, passed peacefully on Monday, June 27, 2016.
Born in 1928 and raised in Yukon, PA, the son of the late Mary and Steven Myers, Wilber first tasted athletic success in high school football, basketball and baseball while working in the coal mines and lumber yards. After graduating from South Huntington High School in Pennsylvania with the Class of 1946, he immediately pursued and, in 1951, earned his B.S. degree in Health and Physical Education from Slippery Rock College in the town in Pennsylvania that bears the colleges name. While there, he discovered his skill of soccer, also dabbling in semi-professional soccer, baseball, basketball and bowling.
Immediately after earning his bachelor’s degree and drawing upon his athletic experiences, the U.S Army was the place where Will really put his leadership skills and courage on the line. Serving as a platoon sergeant with the 7th Infantry Division in the Korean War, he valiantly served on the front lines, losing his hearing in one ear due to an explosion. For his bravery Will was awarded three Bronze Service Stars, the Combat Infantry Badge, U.N. Service Metal, and the Good Conduct Medal. In all, he served from 1951 to 1953 and then until 1959 in the U.S. Army Reserves where he was a judo instructor.
Upon his return home to the U.S. and civilian life, Will was accepted into the master’s program at Penn State University. There he earned his Master’s degree in Physical Education and, as part of that pursuit, spent a summers in attendance at Alfred University, NY and Indiana University.
Mr. Myers first job was as a physical education teacher with Elkland High School in Elkland, PA. He taught there for 7 years. During his time at Elkland, he met his wife Helena. They were blessed with three children: Weldon, Tammy, and Steven.
By now, Will was known and referred to as “Coach” by anyone who knew him. He turned the page and began the next chapter in his life when he embarked on a new roll with William Paterson College – known today as William Paterson University. Coach served in numerous rolls as Director of Athletics, Director of Intramurals, Head Coach of the school’s golf program where teams under his leadership won ten division championships, J.V. Basketball Coach, Baseball Coach and, most important to him, Head Coach of WPC’s soccer program. Throughout his soccer coaching career, his William Paterson Pioneer teams won numerous NCAA titles and multiple alumni under his program were honored with induction into the college’s Hall of Fame. If the subject of athletics and health came up at William Paterson College, you could be sure that Coach Myers was part of the conversation. He also served there as Professor of Health and Physical Education and taught many health-related courses including first aid, CPR, and Red Cross courses. Even Coach Myer’s daughter Tammy took one of his classes and has good memories of some of the concepts she learned from her dad that she still uses to this day in her career as a registered nurse. Coach’s career with WPC spanned 25 years, from 1962 to 1987 and he always considered it a great joy and honor to go to work. Those that served under Coach Myers were well-aware of his competitive nature and that playing for him was not going to be easy. Some can remember the years of the moped craze in NJ. Coach bought a moped too and drove it to campus every day. He also used it to chase the players as he made them run all over the college’s campus as part of their training regimen. Coach inspired them to work hard for the victory and he enjoyed the utmost respect from his players and colleagues. He was a regular speaker at numerous sports banquets and award dinners and, during summers, he ran soccer and swimming day camps, some in New York State where he drove the bus full of sports campers himself. He was also heavily involved in the WPC Special Olympics program where he was instrumental in establishing the sport of soccer as one of the Special Olympic events. Maintaining his connection with the university as a member of the Retired Faculty Committee, Coach could always be found among the spectators at school sports events.
When Coach wasn’t at work, he loved spending time at home in his gardens. He designed and planted them himself, building rock walls with boulders he took home from the woods around William Paterson College. What a sight to see him driving home from school, his trunk full of rocks to build those walls, causing the back end of his car to drag dangerously low to the ground. With a degree in botany, the gardens around his house would have given NY Botanical Gardens a run for their money. Coach also regularly enjoyed playing golf at the Passaic County Golf course and with his buddies at the North Jersey Country Club. You could never keep his competitive nature down so he also bowled in competitive leagues at T-Bowl of Wayne and traditionally returned to Elkland High School in Pennsylvania to take part in the annual national softball championship.
Music was a big part of Will’s life too, and he especially enjoyed polkas, big band, country and popular music from the 1950’s. An accomplished dancer, he and his companion Helena Congers were regulars on the dance floor at lunches held at the Paterson Brownstone House which were sponsored by the Old Timers Association. They also danced at VFW, American Legion, and Wayne Golden Ager functions. Even playing cards, an activity the Coach enjoyed on a weekly basis with family and friends, he always wanted to win.
Above all pursuits and pleasures of life, nothing was more important to Coach than his family. He and his friend Helena always looked forward to visiting his sister Lillian in Florida and he adored the ground his grandchildren walked on. When they were toddlers, he’d, get right down on that ground to play with them and wow them with his animal impersonations. Ask any of those grandchildren about their favorite memory of Pops and they’ll more-than-likely tell you the story about the time the whole family gathered up at Coach’s son Weldon’s house in New York State. It’s lucky, Coach survived that weekend. First, a carpet tile sample, sitting unsecured on the front rack of an ATV, blew up into Coach’s face causing a deep gash. Next, while playing horseshoes, he dislocated his shoulder. He moved on from there to take the kids berry picking and promptly fell face-first into a blueberry patch with lots of thistles. That night, while sitting by the fire, the wind blew causing sparks to fly toward his face. That was the last straw! He got up and exclaimed, “I gotta go home.” Despite that particularly unfortunate weekend, there were plenty of great memories with family at Weldon’s house. While all the adults would stay in the house, Pops always chose to be in the camping trailer with his grandchildren.
Until about a year ago, Coach still worked out about three times a week, regularly mixing swimming and biking into that exercise regimen.
Wilber is survived by his two dear sons: Weldon Myers of Wayne, and Steven and wife Audrey Myers of Lake Hiawatha; his dear daughter Tammy Poshkus of New Hyde Park, NY; five adored grandchildren: Jessica Myers, Kimberly Myers, Steven Myers, Michael Poshkus, and Jennifer Poshkus; two cherished great-grandchildren: Dante Ferreria and Madison Myers; his dear sister Lillian and husband Louis Calpey of Winter Park, FL; his much-loved companion Helena Congers of Wayne; and multiple nieces, nephews, and close friends. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his dear sister Anna Marie Myers.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Wilber Myers' name are asked to consider the William Paterson University Foundation, Scholarships, 300 Pompton Road, Wayne, NJ 07470 or by clicking on the following link below (Make sure you include Wilber's name in comment section):
William Paterson Scholarship Foundation
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