William J. “Bill” Stanley died peacefully on November 15, 2016, at Elim Park Baptist Home in Cheshire, CT. He was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, June 3, 1923, son of the late William J. and Mary E. Stanley. He was educated in the Pittsfield schools, graduated from the General Electric Apprentice program at the Pittsfield Works, and graduated from the University of Massachusetts as a Mechanical Engineer in 1952. Mr. Stanley served in the Army Ordnance Overseas Maintenance and Modification Detachment in both the European and Pacific Theaters during WW2. He worked in a number of Massachusetts and Connecticut major corporations in several capacities of both staff and management engineering, and he held professional engineering licenses in both Connecticut and Massachusetts. Upon retiring from industry in 1980, he started a home inspection and engineering company that specialized in residential structures and supporting systems. He was active in the American Society of Home Inspectors, both at the national level and locally in the Southern New England Chapter. His son, William, is currently the owner and operator of the Company. Mr. Stanley, a life member of the National Rifle Association, was a member of the Metacon Gun Club, in Simsbury serving two terms as President. He was instrumental in starting the Metacon Junior Rifle Program in the mid 1970's, and also started and coached the rifle team for Boy Scout Troop 171in Simsbury. He was a life member of the American Legion, serving as Commander of Post 327 in Massachusetts shortly after leaving the Service. He was a member of the Simsbury Tomalonus-Hall Post 84 at the time of his death. He had a lifelong interest in automobiles, particularly antique cars, a genetic disorder that was passed along to his sons and grandsons, owning a pre-war Dodge that won several awards over the years. He was a member of the Antique Automobile Club of America and its local chapter, the Central Connecticut Region, as well as the local Valley Classic Wheels Club.

He is survived by four sons and their families - William J. and Susan D. (Hertz) Stanley of Cheshire, and grandsons Thomas Stanley of Clarksville, TN and James D. Stanley of Spartanburg, SC; Thomas J. and Barbara L. (Goodwyn) Stanley, and grandsons Paul A. Stanley and his wife Estefania of Astoria, N.Y. and Michael T. Stanley also of Astoria, New York; David J. Stanley and granddaughter Molly P. Stanley of Fullerton, CA.; and son Douglas J. Stanley of Brea, CA. He was predeceased by his wife of over 60 years Margaret M. Stanley and David’s wife, Julie A. (Throm) Stanley. He is also survived by his sister M. Patricia (Stanley) Ruel of Pittsfield MA.

Bill’s family would like to give special thanks to the staff at Elim Park Baptist Home in Cheshire for the loving care he received during the final months of his life.

Calling hours will be at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury, CT on Sunday, November 20th from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Monday, November 21st at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 265 Stratton Brook Road in West Simsbury. Burial with military honors will follow in the Simsbury Cemetery. Please visit Bill’s “Book of Memories” at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online condolences.