William B. WASSELL

WASSELL, William B.


William B. Wassell. It is with great sadness, on February 1st, that the family of William B. Wassell raised their glasses one last time in honor of a wonderful man. Born Aug. 9, 1919, Bill was the loving husband of the late June Bale Wassell for 60 wonderful years and was the son of the late Alice York Wassell of Hartford and the late George Wassell from Dudley, England. A graduate of Weaver High School Bill served in the U. S. Air Force during World War II. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering at the Aeronautical University of Chicago and was employed at the Chandler Evans Company in West Hartford for 32 years, retiring as Design Manager in 1983. In his youth, Bill was the captain of the winning Weaver High School Cross Country Team, which set a pattern in his life of constant motion. Once a member of the Ski Patrol at Ski Sundown, he served as Chairman of the New England Ski Patrol Conference. Bill was also a member of the Aerospace Association of America and its Committee Chairman. An indoor bowler with the Old Guard, he was also a two term president of the Fernleigh Lawn Bowling Club as well as President of the Elizabeth Park Thistle Lawn Bowling Club. Aside from sports, he was a prodigious worker, arriving early and leaving late each and every day. In his prime Bill could fix, repair, and build anything with only a few old tools. He built four beautiful shore line cottages with his brothers and one large farm house. A truly talented artist in several mediums, Bill hand painted each and every family Christmas card for many years. He was a member of the West Hartford Art League serving on the Executive Committee as well as the Board of Trustees and was made an honorary member of the League after laboring on three of the Art Leagues historic properties. In West Hartford Bill was a member of the Old Guard; a Steven Minister with the First Congregation Church; volunteered with Meals on Wheels; and built houses for Habitat for Humanity until a stroke slowed him down in 2007. In 2010, Bill moved to the Saybrook at Haddam. In his khaki pants, light blue shirt, and vest, he made great friends and had many wonderful adventures with those that surrounded him. A special thanks to Amy and the staff at Saybrook at Haddam. Bill was predeceased by his brother, George Wassell of Wethersfield. Besides his two handsome brothers, Robert Wassell of Wallingford, and Wilmot (Babe) Wassell of East Granby he is survived by his caring children and their spouses; Mark and Debbie (Wayne) Wassell of Houston, TX; Steve Wassell and Sharon Mulberry of Haddam; Ann (Wassell) and Alan Hughes of Hebron; and Charles and Karen (Spalla) Wassell of Vernon; his charming grandchildren scattered about the states are Michael and Courtney (Heaton) Wassell of Houston, TX; Kayla Wassell of Humble, TX; Kyle Martin of Houston, TX; Amy (Hughes) and Noah Creaven of Golden, CO; Chase Hughes of Hebron; Julie Hughes of Henniker, NH; Tyler Heft and Amber Heft of Vernon; and last but not least his three smart and talented great-grandchildren, Brandon, Daniel and Ryan Wassell of Houston, TX.
Family and friends will be received at a memorial gathering on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 11 a.m. at the Saybrook at Haddam, 1556 Saybrook Road, Haddam. In lieu of flowers, friends may make donations in Bill's memory to the charity of their choice. Doolittle Funeral Home, 14 Old Church St., Middletown will be handling the arrangements. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.