Rev. William A. Sheldon

Rev. William A. Sheldon, 75, a resident of Springfield, passed away Monday morning, April 16 at his home in Springfield.

He was born April 23, 1942 in Nyack, NY the son of Frederick and Alma (Leach) Sheldon. He lived in Congers, NY and graduated from Clarkstown High School in New City, NY in 1960. He then attended and graduated from Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY. He was employed by Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, WA and moved to Arlington, VT in 1969 and served as Assistant Superintendent for the Bennington Rutland Supervisory Union in Manchester, VT. He later became business manager for Hills Court, and then was employed for an accounting firm in Albany, NY. He served a business manager at Southern Vermont College in Bennington, Cambridge School in Weston, MA, and at St. Timothy School in Stevenson, MD. He married Dee Pierce in Salisbury, MD on March 21, 1990. They returned to Vermont in 1991 where he owned and operated “Picture Bill’s One Hour Photo” in Ludlow. He then began his ministry as Pastor at the Old Stone Church in South Reading and more recently at the Brownsville Community Methodist Church in West Windsor for several years until his retirement. Following his retirement he continued to be involved in the ministry at both churches and also participated in humanitarian missions in New Orleans, Louisiana and Danli, Honduras.

Rev. Sheldon was named Pastor of the Year in Springfield and served as a mentor at the Springfield and Reading Elementary Schools, he volunteered at the Springfield Family Center, where he also served on the Board of Directors. He was a member of the tennis club in Charlestown, NH. He enjoyed gardening, and received his Master Gardening Certificate, and also taught “Square Foot Gardening”. He also was fond of kayaking, fishing and writing and authored his own book “Flap of His Sandals”.

He was predeceased by his parents, one son, Ian Sheldon, and one sister, Betty Taylor.

Survivors include his wife, Dee Sheldon of Springfield, one son, Rodney Sheldon and his wife, Pamela also of Springfield, one daughter, Kate Sheldon and her partner, Rich Hom of Manchester, VT, four grandchildren, Chelsea Thompson, Michael Sheldon, Shay Paustian and Xander Sheldon, three great grandchildren, close friends, Megan Goddard and Michael Formwalt, and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 28 at 1:00 PM at the Brownsville Community Methodist Church in West Windsor. The Rev. Christian Huebner, Pastor, will officiate. A reception for family and friends will follow in the church hall. Committal services will be held at the convenience of his family at a later date in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Ludlow.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Brownsville Community Methodist Church at PO Box 38, Brownsville, VT 05037 or to the Springfield Family Center at 365 Summer Street, Springfield, VT 05156.

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