NEW BEDFORD — Longtime New Bedford resident William L. Sampson, Jr. died Wednesday, June 29. He was 85 years old.
Bill was one of five children born to William Sampson, Sr. and Marion (Weeks). He was a Navy veteran, serving on the U.S.S. Hornet as a signalman during WWII. He married his wife Winifred (Chace) in 1952. Together they raised their four children and two grandchildren.
Bill was a blue eyed lover of life. He greeted everyone with a smile and a handshake, and loved to tell jokes and play cribbage. He and his wife spent many happy summers at their campground in New Hampshire, where Bill was known to throw a mean horseshoe and made many people laugh as he called Bingo games. He was proud of his impeccable penmanship.
He was a sports fan, supporting the Red Sox, Giants, and Celtics. He drove a sulky in harness races behind his horse Faber Vic, and coached little league for several years. Bill greatly enjoyed decades of keeping score at Bristol Aggie sporting events. He loved, and was loved by, the students there.
Perhaps, more than anything else, Bill enjoyed his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved holding babies, rocking them in his chair or pacing the floor with them in his arms, and playing with toddlers, appreciating their wit and seeing in them all they could be.
He is survived by his wife Winifred; six children, William of Fairhaven, Edward of New Bedford, Kathleen of Middleborough, Richard of New Bedford, Sean of New Bedford and Jocelyn of Lynn; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his sister Dorothy Sampson of New Bedford.
He was predeceased by his sister Marion and his brothers Jean and Granville.
Visitation will be on Friday from 5-7p.m. at the Wilson Chapel, 479 County St., New Bedford. His funeral service will be private.