William ‘Billy’ Basilone Jr. Farrell businessman loved golf, sponsored sports ----- ---- — A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday for William “Billy” Basilone Jr. of 708 Roemer Blvd., Farrell. He passed away tragically at 12:24 a.m. Saturday morning (12-31-11) in St. Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown. He was 58. Mr. Basilone was born May 29, 1953, in Farrell, the son of William Basilone Sr. and Dorothy Brutka Basilone. A lifelong area resident, he graduated from Hickory High School in 1971 and attended Edinboro and Youngstown State universities. He worked at one time for the former National Castings Division of Midland-Ross Corp., Sharon. William was currently the owner and operator of Basilone’s in Farrell, a local establishment that he owned since the 1980s. It was the successor to his father’s business which was the popular Hill Top Inn, also located at 708 Roemer Blvd. He was a lifelong member of what is now Our Lady of Fatima-St. Ann’s Church, Farrell, and was a third degree member of Knights of Columbus Joseph J. Fitzmartin Council 1446, Greenville. A United States Golf Association member, Billy loved the game of golf and was the longtime sponsor of Basilone’s Golf League. He was generous to many and sponsored countless sports-related endeavors throughout the area, too many to name. He belonged to Avalon Golf and Country Club, SharonDala Barrow 1/2/12 , and particularly enjoyed spending time at both Squaw Creek, Vienna Township, Trumbull County, and Avalon Lakes, Howland, Ohio. Some of his social memberships included Sons of Italy Shenango Valley Lodge 875 and the Italian-American War Veterans Post 39, both Sharon; the Sportsman’s Club, the Italian Home Club, First Slovak Workingman’s Educational Club and Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 55, all Farrell; and County Maigh-EO, Youngstown. He is survived by: his companion Marggie Burger, Farrell, his mother, Dorothy Basilone, Hermitage; his son, Westley William Basilone, Hermitage; his daughter, Katlyn Basilone, Ann Arbor Mich.; his feline, Bo Bo, at home; and his sisters, Debby Balagna and her husband Jerry, New Castle; Beck Valentine, Sharpsville; Mary Jo DePreta and her husband Mike, Mercer; Beth Basilone and her companion Steve March, Hermitage; and Nanette Lehman and her husband Mike, New Wilmington. He also leaves many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and -nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins, whom he loved dearly. William was preceded in death by his father. His family asks that anyone wishing to make a memorial contribution in his memory to please consider the William Basilone Reward Fund that is being established to bring justice to his case.