William Caldwell

William A. (“Bill”) Caldwell, 59, of Norwich, passed away suddenly on July 1, 2014 in Oxford, NY.

Born on April 16, 1955, in Norwich, Bill was the son of John F. and Charlotte M. (Weaver) Caldwell. Bill attended Norwich schools until the ninth grade when his family moved to Florida. He graduated from Manatee High School in Bradenton, FL, in June 1973.

Bill returned to Norwich in 1974 and went to work for the Norwich Shoe Company. In January 1982, he decided to follow in his father’s and brother’s footsteps by enlisting in the United States Navy. Bill completed Yeoman “A” school after basic training and was then assigned to the commissioning crew of the destroyer U.S.S. Hayler (DD-997). As part of an original ship’s crew, he became a “plank owner” of the Hayler.

Bill’s time on the U.S.S. Hayler took him to many locations. From his home port in Norfolk, VA, Bill sailed as far east as Singapore and also completed a sixth-month deployment around the coast of South America. He was very proud of the fact that when he was discharged in December 1986, he was the last one of the original commissioning crew.

Bill returned to Norwich after his military service and worked for various companies over the years.

Bill is survived by his mother, Charlotte M. Caldwell, of Norwich; brothers John A. Caldwell, and his wife, Karen, of Norwich, Mark Caldwell and his companion, Aletha Elliott, of Brushton, NY; and sister Christina Budd, and her husband, Michael, of Norwich. Also surviving are nieces Katherine Caldwell, of Clinton, NY, and Summer Budd, of Norwich, and nephews Matthew Caldwell, and his wife, Elisabeth, and Brendon Budd, all of Norwich. Bill was predeceased by his father, John F. Caldwell, in 2005.

A memorial service for Bill will be held at the Wilson Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 with Rev. Joseph Connolly, Pastor and Teacher at the United Church of Christ First Congregational, officiating. Friends are invited to call at the funeral home from 10:00 am until the time of the service. Burial will take place at Mt. Hope Cemetery at a later date.

Contributions in Bill’s memory may be made to the Broad Street United Methodist Church, 74 North Broad Street, Norwich, NY 13815, or to Roots & Wings or Our Daily Bread food pantries, each located in Norwich.