William A. Hayes, 94, passed away at Brookdale of Hamilton peacefully on February 10, 2020 with family by his side. Bill was born in Bayonne, NJ in 1925 to William and Ethel Hayes Sr. Bill was a proud member of the Army Air Corps, serving his country in WWII as a ball turret gunner with the 459th bomb group stationed in Cerignola, Italy. He was a recipient of four bronze stars, the Good Conduct Medal, and an Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster. He was also a proud member of the VFW and American Legion of Barnegat Post 232. Bill graduated from the School of American Music in N.Y. in 1947. His passion for music as both a trumpet player and instructor led him to work with many Drum and Bugle Corps, including the Hawthorne Caballeros, N.Y. Skyliners, The Queensmen, and Florida Vanguard of Miami. After serving as the music and drill instructor of the Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights of Newark and helping them win four national championships, Bill was inducted into the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 1991 and the N.J. Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 1998. Bill moved to Florida in 1960, joining and serving with the Hollywood Fire Department for ten years. When he was not fighting fires, he worked as a lifeguard and for the local Emergency Medical Service. After receiving his Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree in Education from Fairleigh Dickinson University and New York University respectively, he taught math and social studies at Village Middle School in Closter N.J. for 19 years. Post-retirement, Bill's happiest days were spent with his beloved wife of 60 years, Mary. They enjoyed golfing, reading, traveling, doing the crossword puzzle together, and spending time with their daughter Maureen and grandsons Ryan and Matthew. Bill and his family would like to thank the wonderful people of Brookdale at Hamilton, Vitas, and Hibernians Home Care for their loving and compassionate care. He was predeceased by his wife Mary Hayes and by a son Michael P. Hayes. Bill is survived by a daughter, Maureen Kelly and Don of Hamilton; two grandsons, Ryan A. Kelly and Matthew P. Kelly both of Hamilton and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Bill will be held on Tuesday, February 18 at 1:00 PM at the Tilghman Funeral Home, 52 Main Street, New Egypt, NJ 08533 with burial to follow in the BGWCD Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Arneytown. Calling hours will be on Tuesday from 12:00 noon until 1:00 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the World Drum Corp Hall of Fame – WDCHOF, Attn: Richard Warga, 1 Walnut Drive, Pine Brook, NJ 07058.