Obituary for William Francis (Bill) Brouillard Loving Husband, Dedicated Father, Adventurer and Creative Problem Solver passed away in Orlando, Florida on September 7, 2018. He was 84 years old. Born September 29, 1933, in Springfield Massachusetts as the 3rd Child and 1st Son to Zephyr W. and Gertrude F. Brouillard.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Claire and Carol, and brother Dwight. He is survived by his wife of 61 Years Shirley A. (Piela); Sister Faith Smith; Son, William F. Jr. (Sandra); Robert P. (Kristine); John F., Daughter Cynthia A. (Jeff) Renier; Granddaughters, Shelley L. (Ryan) Murphy and Sarah A. Brouillard and Great Granddaughter, Riley Lynn Murphy. Bill graduated in early 1951 from High School (Wartime Graduate) and entered the Marine Corps at age 17.
He served with the Marine Detachment on the USS Roanoke (CL-145) in the Mediterranean from 1952 to 1953. Following his active service with the Marine Corps in 1954 he continued to serve his Country in the Massachusetts National Guard and Marine Corps Reserve until 1958. Returning to Springfield in 1954 he was briefly employed at the A&P Store in Chicopee, MA, where he met Shirley, the love of his life.
They married in October 1957. In 1955 after completing classes at Westfield State College he entered the Mechanical Engineering Profession. Bill advanced himself within the various companies he worked for including Hamilton Standard and Martin Marietta.
Bill retired from Martin Marietta in 1995. Retirement allowed Bill to spend time enjoying his family, woodworking, cabinetmaking, competitive pistol shooting, travel, and the joy of life. Bill was an accomplished private pilot since 1962.
As an off road motorcyclist he participated in numerous off road endurance rides, and was an expert marksman in the competitive pistol-shooting arena. As a devoted and protective Husband, Father, and Uncle he had a “Larger Than Life” presence that will be profoundly missed by his family. A Private Catholic Mass and Interment will take place at a later date.
The family ask that in-lieu of flowers, a donation be made to The United States Marine Corps – Toys for Tots. High Flight By John Gillespie Magee Jr.: “Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds, – and done a hundred things you have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence.
Hov’ring there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air . . .
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or ever eagle flew – And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God”.
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