Yvonne Balfour
To Bill Williams’ family –
My husband and I got to know Bill at the Spring Arbor happy hours on Fridays and on the Wednesday lunch outings. He sure loved his red wine.
Bill liked his “tough nut” reputation and we enjoyed playing into it when we talked with him. He was reluctant to talk much about himself, but he loved to tell stories of his life in Ohio – his work, his daughters, and his wife. His stories reveal that he had a fantastic work ethic and he seemed to be particularly proud that he was able to provide his family with everything that they needed and a lot of things that they wanted. I love Judy describing him as “the bear.” I can see it, but I also know that under the facade there was a whole lot of love.
Judy, we enjoyed getting to know you too. It was nice to talk with someone who was going through what we were – watching over our parents in an assisted living community. The Spring Arbor staff is absolutely wonderful at caring for our parents but there is still a whole lot that has to be done by the “kids” to keep all of the balls in the air. Judy, you did a great job. Your Dad always had a starched, ironed, collared shirt and spotless khakis. He just beamed when you arrived at Spring Arbor. Believe me, no one was going to sit in your chair at the happy hour table. That was something well understood by Bill and me from the first day of our attendance.
We hope we will have a chance to have another talk about your dad over a glass of wine.
Sending much love and sympathy to you –
Yvonne Balfour and Bill Bell