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William Eddy Obituary
Born in Pontiac, Mich. Nov. 22, 1930, William graduated from the Loomis School in Hartford in 1948, and the U.S. Naval Academy in 1952. Immediately following graduation, Ensign Eddy married his high school sweetheart, Georgeann "Jan" (Fleming) Eddy and was deployed directly to the Korean Conflict.
Returning from Korea, Bill transitioned to submarines where he would spend the remainder of his 20-year Naval career, highlighted by his selection for command of the USS Chopper in Key West, Fla.
During his Naval years, Bill had multiple tours of duty at the New London Naval Base. He and Jan owned a family farm-style homestead in nearby North Stonington for many years.
Following Cmdr. Eddy's 1972 retirement from the Navy, he enjoyed a second career as an engineering specialist, supervising technical upgrades and refits of countless U.S. Navy submarines.
Bill celebrated his second retirement in 1991 by hiking the length of the Appalachian Trail, capped by a celebratory ascent of Mount Katahdin in Maine. In their retirement years, Bill and Jan renovated a lakeside home in Rangeley, Maine and Bill spent seven years as a ski instructor at nearby Saddleback Ski Mountain.
Sadly, in the prime of his retirement years, Bill was struck with a debilitating stroke and would spend the last 18 years of his life coping with its ravages and the inevitable decline to his health. A fighter to the end, this once Cold War warrior quietly slipped his last breath and joined a long line of silent heroes who served their country and their families with dignity and pride.
He will be dearly missed by family and friends, beginning with his devoted wife of nearly 65 years, Georgeann Eddy; daughter, Elizabeth Blair Eddy of Mystic, and her daughter, Gretchen Eddy Heublein Shaw; son, Samuel Eddy and his wife, Holly, of Yarmouth, Maine and their three children, Chelsea Eddy, Smythe Eddy and Rhys Eddy. The immediate family will unite this spring to remember their husband, father and grandfather in a small family service and scatter Bill's ashes at a special place close to Bill's heart.
In addition to his parents, William Paul Eddy Jr. and Gail Cushing Eddy, Bill was predeceased by sisters, Barbara Eddy Brown and Jean Eddy Pullan.
If so moved, family and friends are welcome to make a donation to the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) in honor of Bill and his great love for the outdoors, exemplified by his 1991 "thru hike" of the Appalachian Trail. Memorial donations can be made at www.outdoors.org/tribute.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.FuneralAlternatives.net.
Arrangements are under the care of Funeral Alternatives, Yarmouth.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for William Eddy
Sponsored by Funeral Alternatives Group Yarmouth.
3 Entries
Jack Flynn
April 24, 2017
Dear Jan and family,
I am so very sorry to hear of Bill's passing. He was such a great guy, and it always made my day when I would run into him here and there in Rangeley.
RIP Bill, and thank you for your service to our country, and to the Appalachian Trail.
Jack Flynn
Bill Dixon
April 20, 2017
On behalf of the United States Submarine Veterans (USSVI), I offer our sincere condolences on William's passing. You and your loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers. We are forever grateful for William's service to our country in the U.S. Submarine Service. To our Brother of the Phin we say, Sailor, rest your oar. We have the watch. May you rest in peace and may God bless your loved ones who remain. Thank you for your service to our country."
"Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way." 2 Thess 3:16.
William "Bill" Eddy III CDR(SS), US Navy, Now on Eternal Patrol.
Fair Winds and Following Seas Shipmate.
Bill Dixon, National Chaplain United States Submarine Veterans, USSVI.
Nick Nichols
April 19, 2017
To the Eddy Family,
On behalf of the Charleston Base SUBVETS and Swamp Fox Chapter SUBVETS WWII, I offer you our sincere condolences on Bill's passing. We grieve with you on the loss of your loved one and our shipmate. The SUBVETS will have your family in our thoughts and prayers. There is no expiration date on the back of our dolphins and Bill will always be remembered as a Brother of the Phin and a great Patriot.
CDR(SS) William 'Bill' Eddy III
US Navy Submarine Veteran Retired
Now on Eternal Patrol
Sailor Rest Your Oar
Your Shipmates Have The Watch
Fair Winds and Following Seas Shipmate
Charleston Base Submarine Veterans
Nick Nichols, MTCM(SS) USN Ret.
Base Chaplain
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