William Oscar Bedard

Submitted by Woonsocket_Admin on Mon, 09/04/2017 - 15:02
Submitter's First Name
Barbara
Submitter's Last Name
Smithson
Relationship to Honoree
Daughter
Submitter's Phone Number
508-278-6820
Submitter's Email Address
bsmithson1@charter.net
Mill Employee First Name
William
Mill Employee Middle Name
Oscar
Mill Employee Last Name
Bedard
Mill Employee Birth Date
Mill Employee Birthplace
Woonsocket
Mill Employee Workplace 1
Woonsocket Worsted
Job Title 1
Bobbin Setter
Mill Employee Photo
Mill Employee Nickname
Bill
Mill Employee Ethnic Identity
French Canadian
Mill Employee School
Woonsocket High School
Mill Employee House Worship
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs
Biography Text

Bill worked full time on the second shift in the mills while still in high school to help support his family. He was the oldest of 3 boys. Bill enlisted in the Coast Guard after high school at age 18 during WWII. Upon returning from the War he married Julie Blanchette. They have been married for 69 years. Bill joined the reserves after WWII and his unit was activated during the Korean War and again he was shipped out to Africa. Bill was able to complete his schooling after the Korean War attending Providence College and going on to get his Masters at Brown. After graduation Bill went on to become the head of the Math department at Woonsocket High School where he taught math, physics and calculus for 30 years. Bill is 92 now and he can seldom go anywhere in Woonsocket without being recognized, His family calls him the Mayor of Woonsocket. Bill and Julie have 3 children, 6 grand children and 3 great-grandchildren.