William W. Metts, Jr.

William W. Metts, Jr., 86, of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, formerly of Stratford and Haddonfield, New Jersey, passed away on Friday, May 10, 2024 at the Treasure Coast Hospice House in Fort Pierce, Florida.

Born in Camden, New Jersey, he had been a resident of Port Saint Lucie, since 1993, coming from Haddonfield. Bill grew up in the Emerald Hills section of Westmont, till the family moved to Kings Highway West in Haddonfield. He graduated from Collingswood High School, Class of 1955, and attended The Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey.

Bill was honorably discharged from the Army Reserves and started his 42 year long career with the New Jersey Bell Telephone Company, until retiring in 1990.  He was a member of the Bell Pioneers and was active with a group of former Bell employees who retired to the Sunshine State, attending their regular get- togethers.

He was an avid fisherman and boater, spending the summers of his younger years, racing around the back bay in Stone Harbor, with his cousin and “Best Buddy”, Jack Reinert, whom he spoke to weekly until his passing.  In his later years, Bill could be found on the beaches in Florida with his Metal Detector, searching for his buried treasures, by the side of the ocean he loved so much.

He was preceded in death by his youngest son, Donald Thomas Metts and his sister and brother-in-law, Sandi and Ed Waddington of Westmont.

Bill is survived by his wife of 68 years, Barbara Metts (nee Hunt); two sons, William Howard Metts and his wife, Jeanine, of Palm Harbor, Florida, and Wayne Russell Metts of Lantana, Florida; one brother, Tommy Metts and his spouse, Thomas Peramba of Port Saint Lucie; three grandsons, Nicholas, Scott, and Kevin; and 5 great-grandchildren, Matthew, Madison, Gabriella, Isabella, and Amara.

A Celebration of His Life will be at a later time at the convenience of the family.

As per His Wishes, his ashes will be returned to the Ocean that he loved so much.

The Family respectfully requests Contributions as a Memorial to the Treasure Coast Hospice, 5000 Dunn Road, Fort Pierce, Florida 34981.