William Joseph 'Bill' Wixted

William 'Bill' Joseph Wixted

Troy- William 'Bill' Joseph Wixted of Harris Road died June 30, 2006 at St. Mary's Hospital surrounded by his loving family. He was 86. Born in Troy on August 10, 1919, he was the son of the late Michael Wixted and the late Viola (Wait) Wixted Fitting, beloved step-son of the late Henry Fitting, and devoted husband for 62 years of Lucille (Traeger) Wixted.

He was a 1940 graduate of Troy High School and attended Troy Business College. A veteran of WWII, he served his country in the Navy Armed Guard, with the rank of Seaman 1st Class, aboard the S.S. Schoharie, the S.S. Charles C. Jones and the S.S. R. G. Stewart in the European Theatre. He was employed by the General Electric Co. in Schenectady for 42 years, retiring from the Schenectady Instrumentation Service Department where he worked as a buyer.

He was past president of the School 14 PTA and was active in the Troy Council of Camp Fire Girls. A dedicated volunteer in the Boy Scouts of America, he served as Neighborhood and District Commissioner and was a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award.

Active in St. Francis de Sales parish for five decades, he was a member of the Holy Name Society, the Parish Council, a Eucharistic Minister, chairman of the Christian Service Committee and assisted in the RCIA program. In recent years, he was a communicant of St. Bonaventure Church. He was active in the Tamarac Twirlers, Troy Seniors and was treasurer of the Beman Park Leisure Group. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, photography, bird watching and match cover collecting.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters and their husbands, LouAnn and James Jendro of Dracut, MA, and Kathleen Wixted and Raymond Gemme of Guilderland; his grandchildren, James Jendro and his fiance Kendra Matte, and Elizabeth (Jendro) and Brian Noel; and his great granddaughter Abigail Noel. Survivors also include four step-grandchildren, Daniel Gemme, Michelle MacDonald, Chris Hewins and Laurie Prater, who has been especially loving and caring; eight step-great grandchildren; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Grace (Traeger) and A. Harold Adams; many beloved cousins especially of the Wait family, nieces and nephews; and many wonderful friends. He was the brother of the late Marion (Wixted) Gorcesky.

Funeral service will be held Monday at 8:30 AM at the DeGraaf-Bryce Funeral Home Inc. 4392 Route 150 West sand Lake and at 9:00 AM at St. Francis de Sales Church Congress Street Troy where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated.

Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home Sunday from 4-8 PM.

Entombment St. Mary's Cemetery Mausoleum in Troy.

Contributions may be made in his memory to The Community Hospice of Rensselaer County, 295 Valley View Blvd., Rensselaer, NY 12144, or a charity of your choice.

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