William Treadway Obituary

BRISTOL, Conn. — A memorial service for William Ingraham Treadway, 94, who died on January 20, 2012 at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH following a brief illness, will be held on Friday, February 3 at noon at The First Congregational Church, Bristol, CT., followed by a reception in the parish house.
Bill was born in Hartford, CT on February 7, 1917 and was the son of the late Morton C. Treadway and Faith (Ingraham) Treadway.
He was proud to say that he lived his entire life within a one-mile radius of Federal Hill: 134 Summer Street, Hickory Hill, 37 Prospect Place and 352 Brewster Road. The last six years of his life he resided in Mystic, Connecticut near his daughter and Woodstock, Vermont near his son.
Bill was educated at the Federal Hill School in Bristol, Eaglebrook School 32’, Deerfield Academy 35’ and Yale University 39’, where he studied mechanical engineering. He entered the engineering department at the family owned Horton Manufacturing Co. where he obtained many patents pertaining mostly to improvements in fishing rods and reels. After Horton was sold he was employed at The New Departure Manufacturing Co. for several years before joining another family business, The E. Ingraham Company. He finished his working years at Fletcher Terry Co.
His interests were many and continued to expand in his later years. He was a very accomplished machinist and built live steam trains, cars and other working models. He was a longtime member of Pioneer Valley Live Steamers. Bill loved fly-fishing and saltwater surf fishing, building his own rods and reels and tying his own flies. He was a long time member of Limestone Trout Club in East Canaan, CT. and traveled many times to the family cabin on Loc Treadway at St. Bernard Fish and Game Club in Quebec. In his youth and again his in later years he was very active in pond sailing, building all of his own sailboats. He was a very accomplished musician playing woodwinds, clarinet, oboe and English horn. He was honored as being a member of the Bristol Symphony for 50 years. He also played in summer stock theater with Canton Productions in Canton, CT. He enjoyed playing in local bands up until just a few years ago. He was a very prolific amateur photographer doing his own developing and won photographic competitions.
Bill was quite active in community activities including being a director and president of the American Clock and Watch Museum, member of the Exchange Club, lifelong member of The First Congregational Church of Bristol and a member of the choir for many years. He loved traveling with his favorite destinations being Switzerland and Bermuda. With all of his various interests and activities, his greatest joy and love was his family.
His 59 year marriage to Ginny, who predeceased him January 3, 1998, begot three children, Judith Appleton Treadway L’Ecuyer married to Philippe L’Ecuyer of Brittany France, Mary Virginia Treadway of Wilton, CT and Wade Ingraham Treadway and his partner Elizabeth Greene of Woodstock, VT and 11 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in memory of William I. Treadway to: The American Clock and Watch Museum, 100 Maple St, Bristol, CT 06010; The Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer St., Bristol, CT 06010 or The First Congregational Church, 31 Maple St., Bristol, CT 06010. Funk Funeral Home is assisting the family. On-line condolences may be made at www.FunkFuneralHome.com.
This obituary first appeared in the February 2nd print edition of the Vermont Standard.

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