Bill Than died at home on March X from complications from skin cancer. He was 46.

Bill was born in Hue in Vietnam on August 18, 1974 in the midst of the Vietnam war.  Bill, his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles fled Vietnam as the war was ending in April 1975. A Catholic fisherman picked up the family of 11 at the port in Vung Tau and brought them out to sea. Bill, who was called Thuy at the time, was feverish and it was questionable on whether he would survive. Luckily, after a few endless days of  drifting, they were picked up by a US naval ship. Bill fought his fever and recovered as they were being taken to Guam. His parents recount this recovery as the best thing about arriving in America after two months of running from war and losing their country.

Arriving in the US and settling in Pennsylvania gave the Than family a new lease on life, and Thuy a new English name. Bill's parents were also hopeful that there would be a cure for his skin disease that was unknown to the Vietnamese doctors. Bill was diagnosed with a rare genetic skin disease called Epidermolysis Bullosa, of which there is no cure. Doctors estimated that his life span would only be 14 years.

The Beatles, The Cure and They Might Be Giants could be heard blasting from his room during high school, as he grappled with normal teenage angst. He also grappled with difficulties arising from his skin disease and the expectations of being the first born son in the family.

As an introvert, Bill thrived in the early days of the internet and AOL chat rooms. Online friends were drawn to his quick wit, intellect, and dark sense of humor. Bill eventually pursued connections with these friends and moved to Cincinnati.

After dabbling in a short stint at Penn State and in some temporary jobs, he began work as a machinist at One Touch Point, where he met his wife Deanna. Bill worked at One Touch Point for 14 years, in the second or third shifts, until he was laid off in January as a result of his cancer diagnosis.

Bill found joy in online gaming throughout his life, a passion he shared with his sons. It was also a way to connect and spend time with his boys. He also shared his sweet tooth with them. He had a creative side, which got overshadowed by the mundane details of everyday life. He often thought about the continent he was born in. He enjoyed Japanese anime and passed the time in the hospital and hospice watching videos of traveling in Japan and Vietnam.

Bill exceeded his initial estimated life span of 14 years and managed to triple it. Life wasn't always kind to Bill, but fought hard against his physical limitations, as he had his whole life starting from that little fishing boat in the Vietnamese seas. But this time, the cancer grew too quickly and he left the world too soon. Bill is survived by his parents, Cu and Phuoc, his sisters, Lara, Vi and Maichi, his wife Deanna, and his three beloved sons Logan, Cole and Levi.

Funeral services will be held at 6:00pm Thursday in the Zettler Funeral Home, 2646 Pleasant Ave. with Fr. Larry Tharp celebrant. Visitation will be from 5:00-6:00PM Thursday in the funeral home.