By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mr. Ernst

READING - William F. "Bill" Ernst, 80, former mayor of Reading, died of cancer Tuesday at his home here.

Mr. Ernst served as Reading's mayor from 1976 to 1980, capping off a political career that began when he returned home from World War II.

He was "always available to those in need," said his son Bill Ernst of Sharonville. He was "known for his accessibility and willingness to listen and assist.

"The heart of the matter was his sense of service. He felt very strongly about people working together. He believed that a group of people could make a difference in a community. He had a strong sense of injustice. He had a strong desire to right that. He didn't like to see anyone in a position of disadvantage."

Mr. Ernst served as clerk of council, treasurer, auditor and president of council before being elected mayor.

His work in Reading resulted in the construction of the city pool, the installation of playground equipment and other improvements to the city's parks, and acquisition of a courtesy van for use by the elderly and disabled.

The Reading Hilltop Fire Station was named for Mr. Ernst in recognition of his support of the Reading Fire Department and Safety Services.

Born in Reading in 1923 to Augusta Bemmes and Frederick Ernst, Mr. Ernst graduated from Roger Bacon High School before serving four years with the Navy.

He was a radioman aboard ships in the Atlantic and Mediterranean and was a special communicator with Army units on land in France and North Africa.

He was in Casablanca when President Franklin D. Roosevelt met with Winston Churchill and Josef Stalin in what would be called the Big Three Conference.

Mr. Ernst married Mary A. Schmitz in 1947 and built his own house during the 1950s in which he and his wife raised 11 children. A carpenter, he worked for several companies.

"One of the jobs he worked on was disassembling and reassembling those old buildings at Sharon Woods Historical Village," his son said.

He owned and operated Reading Hardware from 1982 to 1993.

After he retired 10 years ago, Mr. Ernst did woodworking, home repair and remodeling projects for his family, traveled and was a deputy registrar for the State of Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

Mr. Ernst was a member of the Reading Democrat Club and a parishioner of SS. Peter and Paul Church in Reading. He was a lifetime member and past commander of the American Legion Halker-Flege Post No. 69, Reading VFW No. 5711 and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Sycamore Aerie No. 1095. Mr. Ernst was appointed an Honorary Kentucky Colonel in 1975.

In addition to his son, survivors include: his wife, Mary; two other sons, Steven Ernst of Reading and James Ernst of Springfield Township; eight daughters, Karen Dill of Los Angeles, Calif.; and Susan Ernst Bachmeyer, Mary Lee Gertz Ruth Crabtree, Monica Grant, and Sally, Jane, and Michelle Ernst, all of Reading; three brothers, Thomas, Robert and Jack Ernst; two sisters, Virginia Boehl and Constance Gagliardo; 19 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian burial is 10:30 a.m. today at SS. Peter & Paul Church, 417 W. Vine Street in Reading. Burial is at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Montgomery.

Memorials: SS. Peter & Paul School Education Fund, 417 W. Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45215, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, 701 East Columbia Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45215 or Hospice of Cincinnati, 4310 Cooper Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242.