William H. Alliston

William Hugh Alliston, age 95 of Munhall, passed away peacefully on May 12, 2026.

Born on February 12, 1931 to Ada (Fraylick) and John Frederick Alliston, Bill grew up in Columbia, South Carolina. His education included a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Carolina and a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering with a focus on Electronics from Georgia Tech.

From there he went into the US Air Force where he worked on radar systems. After the Air Force, he went to work for Westinghouse Electric where he spent the next 32 years. He began working in nuclear reactor design on many notable projects including early breeder reactor technology and developing nuclear reactor design for the US Navy. He ended his career working on the design of control room training simulators for power plants. During that time, Bill was also an inventor and holds numerous patents related to nuclear power plant training simulators.

Bill took a short break from Westinghouse in the late 1960’s to take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with the Boeing Company on the Saturn V Rocket that took the first astronauts to the moon. There, he worked on the design of early warning systems that monitored equipment and notified the astronauts and mission control of critical system errors and potential failures.

Bill had a lifelong interest in Ham Radio and designing electronic gadgets. In his spare time, he enjoyed tinkering with everything from cars to household appliances. His tinkering often involved taking those things apart, but not necessarily putting them back together.

Bill is survived by his wife Helen (Lesniak), three daughters Melany Alliston of Munhall, Melissa Alliston of Coraopolis, and Erica Alliston of Astoria, New York. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Nikole Alliston of Seattle, WA and Eric Gunther of Beckley, WV.

Family and friends are invited to a Memorial Service at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, 1158 Morgan Rd, Bridgeville, on Monday, June 15, at 1:30 PM. If you wish to attend, please MEET AT THE CEMETERY in the area immediately surrounding the Public Information Center NO LATER THAN 1:15 PM. We will then process together to the committal shelter for services and millitary honors. All arrangements have been handed by the George Irvin Green Funeral Home, Inc., in Munhall. Please leave your memories and condolences at www.georgeigreenfuneralhome.com.