William Hancock

William P.W. Hancock

EAST DORSET William P.W. Hancock, 83, of East Dorset, and Vero Beach, Fla., died Tuesday March 12, 2013, in Manchester Center, Vt. He was born April 4, 1929 in Bryn Mawr, Pa., the son of F. Woodson Hancock and Katherine Lea Hancock of Valley Forge, Pa. Bill grew up in Valley Forge and attended Episcopal Academy and The Hill School. In 1951 he married Patricia Clay of Chestnut Hill, Pa. While at the University of Pennsylvania he was called to active duty with the U.S. Army and served with the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry of the 28th Infantry Division in Germany. On return, he graduated from Penn, class of 1954.

An advertising executive for many years, he was vice president of the Aitken-Kynett Co., an advertising agency in Philadelphia. Ever a genial and sociable man, Bill made friends wherever he went. He was involved with many clubs during his life, including the Orpheus Club in Philadelphia, which provided him an outlet for his love of singing.

In 1974 Bill and his family moved to South Londonderry, Vt. In addition to his work there as a small business owner and tax consultant, he was active in community affairs and co-founded The Mountain Valley Medical Clinic in Londonderry, Vt.

An avid golfer, he was president of Ekwanok Country Club in Manchester, Vt. from 1989-1991 and served as the club's Head of Trustees for eight years following. He was a member of United States Seniors Golf Association and played in numerous tournaments throughout the East.

A skilled lifelong woodworker, Bill enjoyed designing and building furniture, as well as large-scale radio-controlled model airplanes. Bill is survived by his wife Patricia of East Dorset, Vt. and Vero Beach, Fl., and their four children, William P. Hancock and his wife Lindsay of Gray, Maine; Edward C. Hancock and his wife Carol of Edina, Minn.; Bonnie H. Miller and her husband David of New York City and Peru, Vt.; and Henry L. Hancock and his wife Emily of Pasadena, Calif.; plus six granddaughters and six grandsons.

A celebration of the life of William P.W. Hancock will be held in Manchester, Vt. this summer. Internment will be private. Memorial gifts in Bill's memory can be made to the Mountain Valley Medical Clinic, 38 VT Route 11, Londonderry, VT 05148.