GREENFIELD CENTER William Tyler Hinckley Sr., 92, left this earth to join his Lord and Savior in heaven on December 22, 2018. William (Bill) was married to Florence Bassett Hinckley for 69 years. She was the love of his life, his companion and the mother of his 7 children.
Together they journeyed through all of the ups and downs that life gave them and set an example of faithfulness to God and the importance of family that all of their children have embraced. They were known for their prayers and for always holding hands, including up to the moment when God called Bill home. Bill, born on December 19, 1926, to Kenneth and Alice (Tyler) Hinckley, spent his entire life in Saratoga Springs and Greenfield Center.
His employment history included bookkeeping/office manager for Stewart’s Ice Cream Co. and Wells Pharmacy. Bill, when a father of five and in his thirties, enrolled at SUNY Albany because he thought he should set an example for his children to follow. He earned his teaching degree and taught Math, English and 6th grade for a total of 24 years in the Saratoga Springs City School District (School #4, the Junior High School and Geyser Road Elementary).
In addition to teaching, Bill was a founding member of the Saratoga Teachers Federal Credit Union and worked as its treasurer for 15 years. Faith was extremely important to Bill. He had been a lifelong active member of both the Saratoga Springs and Ballston Spa First Baptist Churches, serving as a deacon, elder, Sunday School teacher and choir member.
He has served as a Gideon and shared his love for the Lord with many people. One of his favorite Bible verses is Joshua 24:15: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”. Bill loved woodworking of all types.
He spent many hours in his workshop lovingly hand crafting gifts for family members. Bill fully renovated the family farmhouse then constructed his own house on the property they called “The Woodlot” in Greenfield Center. He was also known for his love of planes, popcorn, production of maple syrup, travelling, and mastery of the English language.
Bill liked to write humorous poetry, letters and stories, some of which are found in the memoir he wrote called “Bird Droppings”. Music had an important place in Bill’s life. He enjoyed singing and playing the trumpet and while in high school was invited to join the Skidmore College Symphony, which he did.
As an adult Bill also learned how to play the baritone horn and sang barbershop harmony with the Racing City Chorus. Bill is survived by his loving wife Florence, his seven children, Pat Gordon (Leon), Carol Gerbing (Dale), Nancy Stevens (Tim), Diane Loviza (Bob), William T. Hinckley Jr., Daniel Hinckley (Julie) and Mary Beth O’Connell (Jim). Bill is also survived by 15 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank all of those who helped and treated Bill during his illnesses this year. Their kindness and compassion for dad, mom and the family at these locations was overwhelming: Saratoga Hospital, Wesley Rehab, The Pines, the Home of the Good Shepherd in Saratoga and Malta, and the Community Hospice. Bill was predeceased by his parents and his sister Ann Marie McGourty.
A celebration of life service will be held at 11a.m. on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at the First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa, 202 Milton Ave. , Ballston Spa, NY. The family will receive friends beginning at 10 a.m. Donations in Bill’s name can be made to the City Mission of Schenectady, 425 Hamilton Street, Schenectady, NY 12301; Smile Train, www.
mysmiletrain.org; The Community Hospice Foundation, 310 South Manning Boulevard, Albany, NY 12208 or the First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa, 202 Milton Ave. , Ballston Spa, NY 12020.
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