Published in the May 26, 2017 edition
MELROSE — William J. “Bill” Bidgood, 87, of Melrose, died at his home on May 20, 2017.
Bill was born in 1929 in Springfield, Vermont and was raised in Cavendish (Proctorsville Village), Vermont. Bill graduated from Rutland High School, Class of 1947 and Norwich University, Class of 1951. Upon graduation from Norwich, Bill was sent to the Engineer School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia to study with the Army Corps of Engineers. Bill served proudly in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and received the Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star and the United Nations Service Medal. Bill was discharged as a First Lieutenant.
While attending the Engineer School, he visited the Officers’ Club at the Lee House in Washington, D.C., where he met his wife of 56 years, Helen, herself a First Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps, who served in England and Germany during World War II. He resided in Hudson for many years, and the past 48 years in Melrose. While in Hudson, he was involved with the Cub Scouts with their annual Pinewood Derby races and banquet. He was a Boy Scout leader with Troop No. 635 at Incarnation Church in Melrose for several years. He organized Boy Scout trips throughout the region and to Vermont to hike the Long Trail section of the Appalachian Trail. On his last trip, the scouts camped for several days at Bill’s place in Vermont, where the scouts built a bridge out of logs they had chopped and tied together with different types of knots they had learned in scouting. He was a member of the Norwich University Alumni Association.
Bill was an avid coin collector; enjoyed traveling to Alaska and Germany; and deer hunting with his sons and friends. At the site of his ancestral property in Cavendish, known as the Bailey and Stoddard farms, which have been in Bill’s family since 1818. Bill and his uncles built a family cabin, which Bill and his children have expanded over the years. He worked as a civil engineer and sales executive for Warren Pipe in Everett; Water Works Supply in Malden; Public Works Supply in Danvers; and George Caldwell Co. in Stoughton, where he provided engineering solutions and pipe, fittings and valves for many water systems throughout New England. Lastly, he worked as an estimator for Bidgood Associates, Inc. of Melrose. He had a strong work ethic and passed it on to others and provided unselfishly and generously for his family.
Bill was the beloved husband of the late Helen Jean (McCabe) Bidgood, formerly of Grand Rapids and Flint, Michigan. He was the loving father of Mary M. Bidgood-Wilson and her husband Kenneth of Moultonborough, New Hampshire; William John Bidgood, Jr. and his wife Maureen of Melrose; Elizabeth A. Curnane and her late husband Joseph, Jr. of Melrose; Paul F. Bidgood and his wife Patricia of West Boylston; James B. Bidgood of Saugus; Peter D. Bidgood and his wife Lori of Melrose; Andrew M. Bidgood and his wife Allison of Atkinson, New Hampshire; and George M. Bidgood and his wife Kerri of Melrose. He was the cherished grandfather of 20 grandchildren: Kimberly, Brad, Rob, Greg, Colleen, Jennifer, Rachel, Paul Jr., Sarah, Pauline, Jim Jr., Mary, Dean, Evan, Julia, George Jr., Kate, Megan, Kim and Will. He is also survived by six great grandchildren: Patrick, Caitlin, Colin, Olivia, Giada and Kenneth Curtis. He was the caring brother of Janet Loughlin and her late husband Bruce James of New Hampshire; and Curtis Bidgood of Vermont. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Visiting hours were held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 West Foster St., Melrose on Tuesday, May 23. Funeral from the Gately Funeral Home took place on Wednesday, May 24, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at the Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 1155 Main St., Wakefield at 10 AM. Interment took place in Hillcrest Cemetery, Cavendish, Vermont, on Thursday, May 25. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bill’s name to Norwich University Office of Development, 158 Harmon Drive, Northfield, VT 05663 or the charity of your choice. For directions, obituary or to sign guest book, visit www.gatelyfh.com.
