He was a member of the New York State Police Troop A, attending the first academy after WWII. He was a longtime commissioner of the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. He also was an Executive Director of Farnsworth Cookies with his wife, continuing to do consulting until his death.

Bill was a member of the Allegany County Republican Committee and on October 23, 2009 was the first recipient of the Ronald Reagan Award for many years of commitment to the Republican party, a member for twelve years of the Cuba Memorial Hospital Board of Directors and while on the board participated in two major fundraising campaigns for the expansion of the hospital, a Charter Chairman of the Allegany County IDA, a member of the American Cereal Chemists, Buffalo Chapter, and during the Eisenhower Administration was appointed one of twenty US citizens representing the People-to-People Goodwill effort in Russia.

He is survived by a son, Dr. David W. (Vicki) Fox of Wellsboro, PA; Companion and Close Personal Friend, Bonita "Bonnie" Blair of Cuba; a step daughter, Nancy (Thomas) Baker of Rochester; a granddaughter, Dr. Catherine (Timothy) Devlin of Chicago; and friend and caregiver Edna Elling of Nile.

In addition to his parents and wife he was predeceased by a granddaughter Theresa Devlin who passed in 2014, and a stepson James Collins November 6, 2005.

Friends will be received at the Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc., 9 Bull Street, Cuba, on Friday, March 11, 2016 from 6-8 P.M. and on Saturday, March 12, 2016 from 10:00 A.M. until Noon at which time funeral services will be held. The Rev. Marian Schneider, will officiate.

Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Friendship, New York.

Memorial's in Bill's name may be made to the Cuba Circulating Library, Cuba Historical Society, New York State Police Benevolent Association, or to the Allegany County SPCA.