William V. Lazar
William Vincent Lazar, 89 died on April 7, 2026 Rex Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was born in Pittsburgh, PA, on January 16,1937 to Frank & Teresa Grilc Lazar. After graduating from Allegheny High School in 1955, he majored in Electrical Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, receiving his BS in 1960. While at the university, he was introduced by a good friend to Sally Kellogg from Ashland, Ohio. They married in January 1961, moving to El Paso, Texas, where he served the next two years as a 1st Lieutenant in the Artillery Division of the US Army. In civilian life his career focused on the Research & Development area of telecommunications, spending six years with Western Electric, Allentown,PA, where he received an MSEE in Electrical Engineering from Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA. Eleven years in Galion, OH, with North Electric, & five years in Delaware, OH, with ITT, followed. He received a MBA form Ohio State University in 1981. In 1983 he accepted a position with Northern Telecom in Raleigh where he finished his career in International Marketing.
When Bill wasn’t at work, he enjoyed woodworking, including making a piece of furniture for each daughter when they married. He loved cutting-out the “little folk” for his wife, Sally’s Folkloric Design business & working the booth at her art shows. In his younger years he spent his lunch breaks playing handball & racquetball, & was very active in the Jaycees. After retirement, he volunteered for 10 years at Rex Cardiac Rehab, & another sixteen years with AARP Tax Aide, doing income taxes & recruiting volunteers. Traveling the world was a joy for both of them too.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Sally, of 64 years. Preceding him in death was a daughter, Catherine Hymes, & a granddaughter, “Nikki” Hymes, both from Blacklick, Ohio; two sisters, Anna Polovich (Albert), & Louise Reese (Jerry); two brothers, Charles Lazar (Ann), & Frank Lazar (Mary), & niece, Helen Lazar, & nephew, Charles Lazar II (Joanne), all from Pittsburgh. Surviving him are two daughters, Linda Bowens (Orville), Raleigh, Christina Johnson (Eric), Asheville, brother-in-law, Dave Kellogg (Pat), Blacksburg, VA, & son-in-law, Gene Hymes, Cartagena, Colombia, SA. Also, 7 grandchildren: Bruce Hymes (Rachel), Sophia Hymes, Daniel Bowens, Tyler Bowens (Brittany), Kevin Johnson, Scott Johnson, Wesley Johnson, & 3 great grandchildren, Nora Hymes, Crew Hymes, & Case Hymes. Also surviving Bill are his nieces: Susan Kurta (Frank), Jean Lazar, Anna Marie Polovich, Mary Muzzy (William), & Judy Weider, & nephews: Gerald Reese (Heide), Frank Polovich (Sue), Bill Polovich (Joyce), Albert Polovich (Ramona), & Joe Polovich, all from Pittsburgh. Many great nieces & nephews survive him from Pittsburgh & beyond.
A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church in Raleigh, on April 19, 2026 at 2:00pm. The family will receive friends at a reception following the service. Burial will take place at a later time in Ashland, Ohio.
The family request, in lieu of flowers, that memorial gifts be made to Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, 2209 Fairview Rd., Raleigh, NC 27608.