WINDSOR, VT
William Mahlon Wakefield, Sr., (Bill), 72, a longtime resident of Windsor, Vermont, died peacefully at home on Thursday evening, October 2, 2014, in the company of his deeply-loved family. Born June 30, 1942, in Randolph, VT, he was the son of the late Arthur and Merta (Wight) Wakefield. He attended local schools graduating from Braintree-Randolph Union High School in 1960. He was a '65 graduate of the General Electric Engineering/Toolmaker Apprentice Program in Pittsfield MA. While working in engineering at GE, he met his future wife, Marcia Judy Shampang. Married in 1968, they had two children, Sandra Elizabeth Bowie and William M. Wakefield, Jr.

Survivors include Marcia, his beloved wife of 46 years, his cherished children and grandchildren, daughter, Sandra, of Hartland, and son, Will and partner, Mitchi Cohen, of Windsor, and two grandchildren, Anthony John Boyens and Eleanor Theresa Bowie, both of Hartland. He is also survived by four brothers, David and wife, Lois, of Randolph; Richard and companion, Ginny Spooner, of St. Albans; Duane and wife, Linda, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine; and Leroy and companion, Nina Thompson, of Williamstown; two sisters, Martha Brown and husband, Arlin of North Bennington; Maydene Mort, of Bennington; and many nieces and nephews.

In the midst of his engineering career, during turbulent manufacturing times when GE was compelled to lay off thousands, Bill bought and operated the Cork 'n Hearth Restaurant on Laurel Lake in Lee, MA with his wife, Marcia, and his sister, Maydene and husband, Bill. Together they operated the very successful establishment for over 5 years. But longing for manufacturing, he returned to the industrial setting when the manufacturing tide turned upward again, this time at Cone Blanchard Machine Company in Windsor, VT.

Bill's manufacturing career spanned four decades in varying capacities with a mechanical and industrial focus, and it came with a long history of engineering and management positions in Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire. He was especially proud of his many contributions to product and process improvement and his successful and numerous patent developments. Noted for his pragmatic problem solving, Bill was expedient, practical, a devoted realist and a good friend to colleagues. His solutions may have been a little unorthodox at times, but they worked. After 24 years with Thermadyne Corporation of West Lebanon, NH, Bill retired in 2009.

Bill's interests ranged widely from his local school and town budget committee work where he exercised consistent fair practices in difficult budgetary times, the high school Booster Club for the support of academics and sports, to the Greater Windsor Area Chamber of Commerce, serving as its acting president. He was a member of the Rachel Harlow United Methodist Church in Windsor, serving as president of its Board of Trustees and establishing and mentoring its children's group for many years. His membership in the East Bethel, Middle Branch Grange spanned over 50 years.

William was an avid history buff, especially of Civil War strategies and sites, traveling extensively to connect histories and to pay his respects for tragic losses. He loved traveling to Virginia where his wife's great grandfather and great, great uncle fought together. His most spontaneous interest was bird watching, where he and Marcia would take off at a moment's notice on word of an unusual sighting - the tiny hawk owl down from the tundra where they had run out of lemmings, whooping cranes, flocks of wintering robins, delicate snow buntings, his own amazing wintering bluebirds, and especially the majestic Connecticut River Bald Eagles reappearing all the time in greater numbers. Bill cut a heck of a mean rug and never missed a chance to jitterbug with Marcia. He pursued his own and Marcia's genealogy for years, traveling to family headwaters and foothills to find firsthand data. Bill was an avid Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots fan.

Dependable and kind, warm and real with a deeply compelling voice and infectious laugh, these easy traits stemmed from a consistent heart of gold. He was a powerful, lovely treasure of a man, a Vermont boy to his core. Thankfully these traits lasted forever. He is deeply missed. As we walk his favorite haunts in his memory, we will hopefully emulate his goodness and his very well-lived life – especially when visiting the refuges at Dead Creek, Blackwater, Ninevah and Rachel Carson. Finally and peacefully, he loved watching Will's beautiful garden grow. Bill remained stunned by his great good fortune to have lived close to his children and grandchildren for so long.

Visitation with the family will be held at an informal calling hour Tuesday, October 14 from 11:00 to 12:00 at the Rachel S. Harlow United Methodist Church at 165 Main Street in Windsor. The memorial service for Mr. Wakefield will begin at Noon at the church with the Rev. Earl Dionne, Pastor officiating. All are welcome at the reception to follow immediately in the church hall. Committal services will take place at a future time at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Bill's memory to the Windsor Fire Department, 29 Union Street, Windsor, Vt. 05089, or to the Windsor Public Library, 43 State Street, Windsor, Vt. 05089. The Knight Funeral Home in Windsor is entrusted with the arrangements.