William J. Ayres Jr., 87, formerly of Links Drive, passed away the night of February 15, 2011 in Lawrence County Geri-Care.Born July 6, 1923 in New Castle, he was a son of William J. Ayres Sr. and Olive Jones Ayres. He married Mary Helen Mershimer on September 23, 1943. She preceded him in death on January 6, 2006.William was a veteran of WWII, serving in the Army Infantry.He was employed at Sawhill Tubular in Wheatland, PA, retiring at age sixty three with over fifteen years of service as a maintenance foreman.William was a member of Mahoning-New Castle Lodge #243, the Consistory and Legion of Honor.Among his many interests were woodworking, fishing and gardening. He was a member of Princeton Memorial Presbyterian Church.He is survived by one daughter, Joyce A. Mastin of New Castle; two sons and one daughter-in-law, William J. III and Susan Ayres and Charles J. Ayres, all of New Castle; two brothers, Raymond Ayre of Hermitage and Richard Ayres of New Castle; two sisters, Janet Jopek and Elizabeth Wardman of New Castle; six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his parents and wife.Visitation will be held on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. and Friday, Feb. 18, 2011 from 2:00-4:00 and 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the R. Cunningham Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 2429 Wilmington Road.A Masonic service will be held by the Mahoning Lodge Friday evening at 9:00 at the conclusion of visitation.A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. The Rev. Cheryl Waguespack will officiate. Burial will be in Mt. Hermon Cemetery.Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 840 Southwestern Run, Youngstown, OH 44514 or Princeton Memorial Presbyterian Church, 3012 Church Road, New Castle, PA 16101.