William A. Highfield

The Rev. William A. Highfield, 79, of Cooperstown, N.Y., died Monday at Folts Home, a United Methodist Care facility, Herkimer, N.Y. His wife of 47 years is the former Carol Louis Adams.

Born Nov. 1, 1929, in Scranton, son of the late Jay Anderson and Sarah Stainsby Highfield, the stock market crash occurred only three days before his birth. He grew up during the Depression and came of age during the war years. Because of his three older half-sisters, Mabel, Lee and Peggy, he always said he had four "mothers" while growing up. He graduated from Scranton Central High School in 1947. He earned his college and theological degrees from Drew University, Madison, N.J. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1951 and a Master of Divinity 1954. He received continuing education credit from Syracuse and Yale Divinity School.

He was ordained a deacon in 1953 and an elder in the Methodist Church on May 23, 1954, at a session of the Wyoming Annual Conference in the first Methodist Church of Oneonta, N.Y. However, his ministry began as a student pastor of the Harford and Harford Mills, N.Y., Methodist churches on April 8, 1951. Subsequent pastorates were in Springville-Dimock, Pa.; Lynn-Lymanville, Pa.; Cooperstown and Fly Creek, N.Y.; Christ Church, Mountaintop; St. Paul's Church, Endicott, N.Y.; Chenango Street Church, Binghamton, N.Y.; Clarks Summit, and Vestal, N.Y.

He retired from full-time ministry in 1992, but accepted a part-time appointment at Burlington Flats, Exeter Center and West Exeter, N.Y., United Methodist churches where he served until 2001. He also served at West Winfield, N.Y., Federated Church as an interim pastor from May until October 2002. In 2001, he and Carol moved to their home on Beaver Street in Cooperstown, which was the home where Carol grew up. He continued to preach in nearby churches until illness prevented him from doing so; then he turned his attention to active participation in the Cooperstown United Methodist Church.

On Jan. 20, 1962, he married Carol Louise Adams of Cooperstown. Carol was his helpmate, adjunct "pastor," secretary, spell-checker, nurse, counselor, sermon critic, companion and love. His primary church interests were United Methodist liturgical worship, preaching, lectionary study and ecumenism. He always thought of his congregations as extensions of his own family. He was affectionately known as "Pastor Bill" for most of his ministry.

Bill was involved in many community agencies and organizations throughout his life. The Rotary clubs of Cooperstown, N.Y.; Clarks Summit; Vestal, N.Y.; and Edmeston, N.Y., benefited from his participation and leadership. He was honored in July 2008 by the Rotary clubs of Cooperstown and Binghamton as a Paul Harris Fellow. Wyoming United Methodist Conference used his talent in worship, ecumenism, mentoring, rural ministry, communication and administration. He proudly considered himself a social, political and theological progressive.

Hobbies included St. Nicholas collectibles totaling more than 600 figurines, pictures, icons, books, stories and a worldwide collection of postage stamps. He tried to recapture the true identity of Santa Claus as the pastor, priest and Bishop St. Nicholas of Myra. Bill was also interested in U.S. stamps, and compiled collections of sports stamps and covers, especially baseball, African-Americans, love and Christmas issues. He was also a member of the Leatherstocking Stamp Club. His sports teams, the Phillies and the Eagles, always had his support, no matter how futile were many of their seasons, but not the Phillies World Championship of 2008.

Of special memory are Episcopal priests Dick Chapin and Tom Davis and United Methodist Pastor George Mamourian, both Drew University classmates who met frequently during 60-plus years of friendship. Bill's other companion was Rookie, the family's black Lab. His family also extends a special thanks to all of Bill's caregivers.

When asked what his mission in life was, he would always answer, "I hope I can be useful to someone."

Also surviving are three children, Jay Adams Highfield, Johnson City, N.Y.; and Ann Carol Highfield-Lomonaco, Endicott, N.Y.; a son from an earlier marriage, William Jr. and wife, Leann, and thier children, Ben, Kate and husband, Rob White; Brad and Briana; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jack and Hetty Adams; a daughter-in-law, Dottie Highfield; two great-grandsons, Jackson and Liam; a cousin, Isabel Harrison; several nieces and nephews.

Holy Communion and the Service of Death and Resurrection will be Saturday at 11 a.m. in Cooperstown United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut St., Cooperstown, with the Rev., Sundar R. Samuel as celebrant and the Rev. Beverly Butler as homilist. All clergy are invited to vest and walk in processional. There will be a reception hosted by the Cooperstown United Methodist Church Women in the Church Hall after the service.

Burial of Bill's remains will be in Hartwick Seminary Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

Calling hours for family and friends will be Friday, 4 to 7 p.m., and Saturday for one hour before the service, at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cooperstown united Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut St. Cooperstown, NY 13326; Catskill Area Hospice, 542 Main St. Oneonta, NY 13820; or the Cooperstown Food Bank, 25 Church St. Cooperstown, NY 13326. Funeral arrangements are under the supervision of Tillapaugh Funeral Service, Cooperstown and Milford, N.Y.