William James Bedor

WILLIAM JAMES BEDOR

LITTLETON, NH -- William James Bedor, 93, of 31 West Elm Street, Littleton, New Hampshire died at Littleton Regional Hospital on Wednesday April 5, 2017 after a short illness.

Bill was born on September 5, 1923 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont to William George Bedor and Edith M. (McDowell) Bedor. Bill began schooling in North Danville, Vermont and attended the St. Johnsbury Vermont Trade School. Bill was predeceased by his parents, several brothers, a sister, and his wife, Winona Bedor.
Bill was married to Winona Elizabeth Rivers on June 30, 1942. Of the marriage were born 3 children; Roger W. Bedor of Littleton, Joel J. Bedor of Littleton, and Elizabeth Ann Bedor who died at birth.

Bill was employed most of his life in trucking and road construction. He began work with his father's construction business, worked for several regional firms, owned a trucking business with his brother, Richard, and was Superintendent of Public Works in Littleton, New Hampshire, retiring in 1985. Never idle, Bill continued working for several more years, first with Tuite Contracting, then with The Mount Washington Cog Railway.

Bill joined the U.S. Army on March 23, 1943 and served until October 21, 1945, achieving the rank of Technician 5. He was a member of Transportation Corps Company 1, 274 Infantry, 70th Division and the 992nd Engineer Treadway Bridge Company. Bill saw action beginning at Omaha Beach on D-Day and ending in Nienburg, Germany. His group built more than 30 bridges in support of infantry units, crossing the Seine River, the Meuse River, the Elber River, the Rhine River and others. His unit received a battlefield citation for "outstanding performance in bridging the Roar River in record time under heavy enemy artillery, mortar, and small arms fire." The longest bridge built by his unit was 1,080 feet long near Mehrum, Germany.

Bill enjoyed playing baseball as a youth and was an avid Red Sox fan, known to have many "friendly" debates with Dr. Richard Hill, an avid Yankees fan. Bill particularly enjoyed traveling to basketball and hockey games being played by his son, Joel, and his grandsons Steve and Bill, and the softball games of his great granddaughter, Kaytlin. Bill enjoyed traveling with his wife, Winona, and his brother, Walter, and sister-in-law, Iris. He enjoyed playing card games including canasta, cribbage, poker, and solitaire with his family and friends, as long as they didn't mind getting beaten!

Bill is survived by his sons, Roger and Joel, their wives Bobette and Catherine, his grandsons, Bill and Steve, his granddaughters, Annette and Kelly, his great granddaughter, Kaytlin, and several nephews and nieces.

SERVICES -- A funeral service will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church, 35 School St. Littleton on Saturday April 22 at 11 A.M. and visitation will be at Pillsbury Phaneuf Funeral Home on April 21 from 5 to 7.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Bill's name to All Saints Episcopal Church, 35 School St. Littleton, NH.