Uncle Bill: Family Croquet Champion

From the Family photo collection of Hannah Champlin Broadfoot
given to me by Barbara Trowbridge, now in my family collection, 2018
Little girl was a neighbor and playmate of Bill's.

Uncle Bill
Family Croquet Champion
1919-1991

Obituary from the  Providence Journal Wed. 2 Jan 1991

William B. (Beveridge) Broadfoot [Richmond, RI]

William B. Broadfoot, 71, of 16 River St. Alton and employee of the former Richmond Lace Works, died Monday at Westerly Hospital. He was the husband of Hannah (Champlin) Broadfoot.

Born in Westerly, he was a son of the late Thomas and Annie (Aiken) Broadfoot.

Besides his wife, he leaves a brother, Thomas Broadfoot of Cranston, and a sister Annie Crompton of Providence.

The funeral service will be held Friday at 2 PM at the Avery Funeral Home, Main St. Hopkinton. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Hopkinton.

My dad and Uncle Bill's wife Hannah were with him at the Westerly Hospital when he passed away. My dad told me that Uncle Bill gave a little sigh and was gone.

Dad always called him "Brother Bill". Bill was only 15 when his mother died and as the picture of the family has emerged though the years I have been researching, I think Bill must have missed his mother the most.

Dad told me that my Uncle was not expected to live when he was born. He was small and fragile. But, he did live and my dad carried him on his back to elementary school for years. I wondered if his mother had a difficult pregnancy or if she didn't get enough rest because she worked on her feet so hard with three other children to care for.

I knew Uncle Bill had a car accident some time ago and I thought it was that accident that disabled him but no it was not. It was because he was an epileptic since birth. My cousin sent me the newspaper articles about the accident and I think he was lucky to have survived the car wreck.

Quiet spoken and of few words, Bill always said, "Can't complain" when asked about his health. With his red hair and Rhode Island accent, Bill was a good listener. He embraced his love of his parents by learning as much as he could about the places where his parents came from.

Being disabled from the accident, didn't slow him down when it came to playing croquet. Nobody let him win either. When I think about him now, I realize that he most epitomizes what both my Broadfoot and Aiken ancestors looked like and how their mannerisms were in everyday life.

His wife was an angel. She catered to his every need and I don't know what we would have done without her to care for and love Bill. 

#52Ancestors #8