William Gaillard Farrell

1930 - 2016

William Gaillard Farrell, 86, of Hendersonville, NC passed away on December 10, 2016 at Elizabeth House in Hendersonville. He was born March 29, 1930 in New York, NY.
Bill graduated from St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Cardinal Hayes High School and Manhattan College, all in New York City. He enlisted in the Navy while attending Manhattan College and ultimately was Commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer Candidate program after he graduated in 1952. He served on Active Duty during the Korean War including tours aboard two aircraft carriers, the USS Salerno Bay and the USS Leyte. Following his Active Duty, and a return to the construction field in New York City which included overseeing the major redevelopment of City College of NY as Director of Campus Planning, and Development and Facilities Planning at Brooklyn College, he remained in the Naval Reserve, ultimately transferring to the Navy Civil Engineer Corps. During the next 25 years of military service, Bill served with distinction in the Reserve Naval Construction Forces in key leadership positions supporting the Seabees, following a tradition set by his father. His most notable tours include assignments as the initial Inspector General of the First Reserve Naval Construction Brigade; Commander, 21st Naval Construction Regiment; and Commanding Officer, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Thirteen. He retired as Captain after a thirty year career. Bill and his wife, Madeline, retired to Hendersonville in 1991.
Bill was a proud Eagle Scout and participated as the Senior Patrol Leader of all the scouts from New York City at the World Scout Jamboree in Moisson, France in August, 1947.
Bill was very involved in church, community and civic activities, both in New York City and Hendersonville. This included in New York serving as a Boy Scout adult leader, involvement in the St. Luke's parish council and serving as an organizer and the announcer for the parish bazaar; and in Hendersonville many volunteer activities for Immaculate Conception parish, including Vice Chairman of the committee which built the current church, the Gem and Mineral Society, the Henderson County Sheriff's Department, the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, the Board of Equalization and Review, the Planning Board and the Republican Club, Member of the Korean War Veterans, Member of the Military Officers' Association of America (MOAA) and involvement in several veteran's activities, which included accompanying veterans on Honor Flights to the World War II memorial. Bill also served on the Blue Ridge Community College Board of Trustees.
He was the son of the late William R. Farrell and Abby (nee Gaillard) Farrell. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by an older infant sister, an infant grandson, an infant great granddaughter and son-in-law.
Bill is survived by his wife of 64 years, Madeline C. Farrell (nee Wenz), his nine children, Madeline Franki, William (Marleny), Gregory (Donna), Dennis, Philip (Maureen), Kevin (Ada), Raymond (Karen), Regina Bellantuono (Robert), Donald (Marisa), his twenty-seven grandchildren, his fourteen great grandchildren, his sister Loretta Dente (Anthony), his brother Philip (Julie), his sisters-in-law Ernestine Wenz and Rose Marie Marron, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Bill was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather totally devoted to his family, God, country and friends.
The family will receive friends on Friday, December 16, 2016 from 6-8pm at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 538 Tracy Grove Road, Hendersonville, NC with a prayer service beginning at 6pm. A funeral mass in celebration of his life will be held 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 17th in the main sanctuary of Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville. Military honors will be rendered in the church following the mass. Interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, DC at a date to be determined.
An online register book is available for family and friends and can be found at www.forestlawnhendersonville.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to any one of the following:
St. Elizabeth School, Attention Dr. Adams, 612 W 187 Street, New York, NY 10022, write "In memory of Willam Farrell" on memo line.
Immaculata Catholic School 711 Buncombe Street, Hendersonville, NC 28791, write "In memory of Willam Farrell" on memo line.
Seabee Memorial Scholarship - a form can be found @ Seabee.org - Look for form under "Memorial Gifts", print and send in with the donation. Donations may also be made online at Seabee.org by clicking on the yellow "Donate" button.
Greater NYC Boy Scouts of America - William G. Farrell Summer Camp Scholarship Fund - please send check payable to Boy Scouts of America and send to Greater NYC Boy Scouts of America, c/o Raymond Farrell, Carter, DeLuca, Farrell & Schmidt LLP, 445 Broad Hollow Road, Suite 420, Melville, NY 11747.
Donations to the above organizations may also be made online via tmcfunding.com.