William R Bilarczyk Sr

BILARCZYK, WILLIAM R. SR., 73, of Little Egg Harbor, N.J., affectionately known as Bill, sadly passed away on January 14, 2024, after a long battle with MDS.  Born to Anthony and Audrey Bilarczyk on 11/2/1950 in Rahway, NJ.  He was a 1969 graduate of Rahway Senior High School and the General Motors Automotive Mechanic School and was said to have “motor oil” running through his veins. A true lifetime lover of automobiles, he rebuilt many engines for family members and totally rebuilt his 1980 and 1991 Corvettes.

Bill worked as a Locomotive Engineer for 38 years, starting in freight for Penn Central Railroad and Conrail in 1972. In 1979 he transferred to passenger service with New Jersey Transit. He was a BLE Local Chairman for Division 373 for many years. He was a Road Foreman for the Newark Division out of Raritan, NJ, and a mentor for the NJ Transit LETP (Locomotive Engineer Training Program). He retired in 2010. 

In 1972 he married his loving wife, Donna (Keane) Bilarczyk and moved to Bayville, NJ where they raised their four children: Dawn (deceased); Jennifer (Socrates) Müller of Ottsville, Pa; William, Jr (Nadine) of Raritan, NJ; and Stephanie (Christopher) Johnson of Little Egg Harbor, NJ. He was the very proud grandfather of Teigan and Chance Müller and Lily and Max Johnson.  In 1986 Bill moved the family to Ringoes, in Hunterdon County. When, in 2004 it came close to retirement time, Bill and Donna moved to a Little Egg Harbor adult community, where he worked the Atlantic City to Philadelphia line. In their spare time, they loved traveling the country and around the world.  Bill’s favorite place was Murano, Italy and wanted to spend winters there. 

He is survived by his brother, Robert William Bilarczyk and his wife Christine of Hillsborough, NJ and four nieces and nephews. Memorial Service will be held at Wood Funeral Home, 134 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, N.J., 08087 on Monday, January 29, from 2 to 4 PM, with a service at 4 PM.  In lieu of flowers please consider Tunnels to Towers Foundation.  T2T.org.