Howard D. BIDWELL

BIDWELL, Howard D. Howard D. Bidwell died peacefully at home on Tuesday, (November 16, 2010). He was born January 1st, 1930 to Howard E Bidwell and Corinne Clapp Bidwell of East Hartford, Connecticut. After graduating from East Hartford High school, he obtained a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Bucknell University. Following graduation, he was a commissioned officer in the Civil Engineer Corps of the U.S. Navy. In 1966, Howard organized Consolidated Precast, Inc., manufacturing architectural precast concrete. Originally located in Farmington, it relocated in 1986 to Thomaston. Professionally, he served as President of the Architectural Precast Association and was well respected in his field. As a long-term resident of Farmington, he served on the Republican Town Committee and member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. He was also a charter member in founding the Farmington Rotary Club, past president and a designated Paul Harris Fellow on three occasions. He was also a longtime member of the First Church of Christ, Congregational in Farmington. Howard was exposed from birth to his father's love of sailing, and carried that love to adulthood- being a member of the Off-Soundings Club and the Baldwin Yacht Club. Howard enjoyed pleasure cruising and racing, in which he experienced great success. He won the "Daytona Beach to Bermuda Race" three times in his class. In addition to his wife Angie, Howard has left his son Howard (Bud) Bidwell and his wife Ellen of Harwinton, his daughter Marybeth (Becky) Bender and her husband Kurt of Lebanon, his daughter Susan Williams and her husband David of Lebanon, his daughter Tracy Bidwell of Columbia S.C, his daughter Julie Bidwell-Sansone and her husband Andrew of NYC, his daughter Melissa Bidwell of Brooklyn, NY. He also leaves 7 grandchildren, Joanna & Scott Bender, John & Katie Bidwell, Rachel & Rebekah Williams, and Addison Sansone. He was previously married to Virginia Pocock of Lebanon, and Fabiola Bidwell of Farmington. He also leaves a brother Wayne Bidwell and wife Martha and their daughter Amelia of Farmington. A private burial service with full Naval honors will be held at the convenience of the family. A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday (November 21, 2010) at 2 p.m. in the Meetinghouse at the First Church of Christ, Congregational, 75 Main St., Farmington. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the "Bidwell Scholarship for Civil Engineers" which he established at Bucknell University. Donations should be addressed to "Office of Planned Giving, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837-9988 or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Church Street Station, P.O. Box 780, New York, NY 10008-0780. Arrangements are being handled by The Ahern Funeral Homes, Inc.