Obituary for William S. Wehner
William S. Wehner, 57, of Newhall, Calif., formerly of Ludlow, died early in the morning June 29, 2008, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Fort Lauderdale, Fla..
Born Dec. 1, 1950 in Washington, D.C., he spent the first part of his life up in such places as Guam, Okinawa and Tripoli, Libya, before his parents eventually settled in Ludlow in 1963. It was from these travels that Bill said the seeds of his lifelong wanderlust were sown.
He graduated in 1968 from Ludlow High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1973 from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a Master of Education degree in 1975 from Springfield College.
From 1975-1977, Bill taught at the American School of Milan, Italy, and, returning to the United States, worked as a counselor to young men and women with multiple handicaps in La Verne, Calif.
The next phase of Bill’s life was spent in law enforcement. He joined the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, one of the finest law enforcement agencies in the world, on June 1, 1982 and retired Jan. 31, 2008 with a Distinguished Service Award. He worked as a deputy on patrol, as a liaison to the press and was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 1994.
Upon his retirement, he received citations from several prominent civic leaders, among them President George W. Bush, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
His passions included ethics and morality, reminiscing with family and friends, travel (preferably by motorcycle), music, fitness training, and the Boston Red Sox, New York Football Giants, Boston Celtics and UMass sports. He had a wry sense of humor and a strong moral fiber.
He taught himself to play the guitar, and would regularly sing to his younger siblings, nieces and nephews. He is survived by his mother, Elizabeth B. (Alu) of Ludlow; his siblings Robert J. Jr., of Albany, Ga.; Barbara J., of Saugus; Mary E., of Ludlow; Thomas M., of Cheshire, Conn.; Therese A., of Auburn and James M., of Ludlow; five nieces, Patricia E., of Atlanta; Allison M., Julia A. and Leah C., of Cheshire; and Rebecca M. and Emma C. of Ludlow; and four nephews, Thomas J.W. and Stephen R. of Albany; Zachary T., of Cheshire, and Adam J., of Ludlow; and countless friends and colleagues from the American School of Milan and the LASD. He was predeceased by his father Robert J. Sr. (1923-1997).
Friends and family are asked to gather for a Liturgy of Christian Burial on Thursday, July 10, in St. Mary of the Assumption Church 485 East St. Ludlow at 10am followed by burial in Island Pond Cemetery. Calling hours will be held July 9 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Ludlow Funeral Home, 432 East St., Ludlow.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations to be made to the Fragile X Research Foundation (fraxa.org) 45 Pleasant St., Newburyport, MA 01950.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations to be made to the Fragile X Research Foundation (fraxa.org) 45 Pleasant St., Newburyport, MA 01950.
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Born Dec. 1, 1950 in Washington, D.C., he spent the first part of his life up in such places as Guam, Okinawa and Tripoli, Libya, before his parents eventually settled in Ludlow in 1963. It was from these travels that Bill said the seeds of his lifelong wanderlust were sown.
He graduated in 1968 from Ludlow High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1973 from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a Master of Education degree in 1975 from Springfield College.
From 1975-1977, Bill taught at the American School of Milan, Italy, and, returning to the United States, worked as a counselor to young men and women with multiple handicaps in La Verne, Calif.
The next phase of Bill’s life was spent in law enforcement. He joined the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, one of the finest law enforcement agencies in the world, on June 1, 1982 and retired Jan. 31, 2008 with a Distinguished Service Award. He worked as a deputy on patrol, as a liaison to the press and was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 1994.
Upon his retirement, he received citations from several prominent civic leaders, among them President George W. Bush, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
His passions included ethics and morality, reminiscing with family and friends, travel (preferably by motorcycle), music, fitness training, and the Boston Red Sox, New York Football Giants, Boston Celtics and UMass sports. He had a wry sense of humor and a strong moral fiber.
He taught himself to play the guitar, and would regularly sing to his younger siblings, nieces and nephews. He is survived by his mother, Elizabeth B. (Alu) of Ludlow; his siblings Robert J. Jr., of Albany, Ga.; Barbara J., of Saugus; Mary E., of Ludlow; Thomas M., of Cheshire, Conn.; Therese A., of Auburn and James M., of Ludlow; five nieces, Patricia E., of Atlanta; Allison M., Julia A. and Leah C., of Cheshire; and Rebecca M. and Emma C. of Ludlow; and four nephews, Thomas J.W. and Stephen R. of Albany; Zachary T., of Cheshire, and Adam J., of Ludlow; and countless friends and colleagues from the American School of Milan and the LASD. He was predeceased by his father Robert J. Sr. (1923-1997).
Friends and family are asked to gather for a Liturgy of Christian Burial on Thursday, July 10, in St. Mary of the Assumption Church 485 East St. Ludlow at 10am followed by burial in Island Pond Cemetery. Calling hours will be held July 9 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Ludlow Funeral Home, 432 East St., Ludlow.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations to be made to the Fragile X Research Foundation (fraxa.org) 45 Pleasant St., Newburyport, MA 01950.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations to be made to the Fragile X Research Foundation (fraxa.org) 45 Pleasant St., Newburyport, MA 01950.
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