William E. Higgins III

Higgins, William E. III MECHANICVILLE William E. Higgins III, of South Third Avenue, died peacefully at home, on Monday evening, December 17, 2007 in the safe and loving company of his family. Bill had courage-ously battled colon cancer for the past five years, never gave up hope, always looked at the bright side of life, and actually comforted his family during the process. Born in Troy, October 5, 1951, son of Marion McGuire of Mechanicville and the late William E. Higgins Jr. A 1970 graduate of Mechanicville High School, Bill enlisted in the US Navy, and served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ranger in the Tonkin Gulf, Republic of South Vietnam. At the time of his death, Bill was a field service representative for New York State Electric and Gas Corp. for 20 years, working out of the Mechanicville substation. Previously, Bill has worked for the G.E. in Schenectady for 17 years, and Lane Pipe Co. of Ballston Spa. Carrying on the Higgins family commitment of service to their hometown, Bill has presently been the president of the E.H. Strang Hose Co. #3 of the Mechanicville Volunteer Fire Dept for many years, a former director of the MFD, a former Boy Scout leader of Troop 35, a member of the Mechanicville-Stillwater Elks Lodge, and a communicant of Mechanicville's Assumption-St. Paul Church and a former church choir member. Bill Higgins' home has been reveling in the glory of winning two of the last three MLB World Series titles that his beloved Boston Red Sox have provided to their dedicated fans. In addition to his father, Bill was also predeceased by his brother Daniel in 1978 and his sister Kathleen, who died in January of this year. Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Barbara Garland Higgins; three loving sons, Justin and fianc?e Tegan Waldron, Matthew R. and Ryan A. Higgins, all of Mechanicville; his sister Mary Ellen (Mike) Monahan of Westtown, N.Y.; and brothers, Terence (Lori) Higgins and David (Eileen) Higgins, all of Mech-anicville; along with two faithful canine companions, Rosco and Casper; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, neighbors and friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 9:30 a.m. at the Assumption-St. Paul North Main St. Church. Burial with military honors in St. Paul's Cemetery. Calling hours at the North Main Street Church on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. Remembrances may be made to either the Make-A-Wish Foundation or Capital District Cancer Resource Foundation. Arrangements by the DeVito-Salvadore Funeral Home, Mechanicville.