William Daley

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- William W. Van Daley, 66, of Huguenot, a retired truck driver, Navy veteran and a religious man who treasured time with his family, died Thursday in his home.

Born in New Dorp, he had lived in Huguenot for more than 50 years.

An alumnus of Tottenville High School, he was a truck driver at the Wall Street Journal for 15 years, retiring in 2012.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1967 to 1968 aboard the U.S.S. Essex, a support attack aircraft carrier. Mr. Van Daley was aboard the ship and helped recover the crew of Apollo 7 when it landed in the Atlantic Ocean in 1968, family said.

He enjoyed reading and having long talks with his grandchildren.

He was very religious and tried to live his life the right way,' said his son, William Paul. He was a relatively quiet guy. He wanted a peaceful, quiet life.'

Surviving, in addition to his son, William Paul, are his brother, David B.; four grandchildren and one great-grandson.

The funeral service will be Monday at 11 a.m. in the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, Tottenville. Burial will follow in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.

Services: Funeral Service Monday November 9,2015 at 11:00 A.M. Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home

Visitation: Sunday November 8, 2015 from 2-4 & 7-9 P.M.

Cemetery: Moravian Cemetery

Location: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home