Rev William Henry Padgett, Jr

Former St John’s

Rector

The Reverend William Henry Padgett, Jr, 83, of Shelton, died January 22 at St Joseph’s Manor, Trumbull. He was the husband of Martha (Mudge) Padgett. Father Padgett was born in Holland, Mich., April 7, 1924, a son of William H. Padgett, Sr, and Eulala (Davis) Padgett. He was a former rector at St John’s Episcopal Church in Sandy Hook.

He had resided in Shelton since 1998, moving here from Waterbury. He was a World War II veteran of the Army Air Corps, serving as a pilot of a B-29. He graduated from Michigan College of Mining and Technology in 1948 and spent more than 35 years working for the DuPont Company as manager of engineering, working mostly in Europe and South America.

Following his retirement, he entered the seminary at Yale Divinity School and received his MS degree from Berkeley in 1985. He was ordained to the Episcopal Priesthood in 1988. In his first assignment, he was sent to Waterbury serving first at two churches, and then eventually serving at four churches, Trinity in downtown Waterbury, St Mark’s on Hewlett Street, St George’s in Middlebury, and All Saints in Wolcott. Following his retirement, Father Padgett took a temporary assignment at St John’s Church in Sandy Hook to fill in until the appointment of a permanent rector, but continued there as rector until 2001. He also had served as assistant to the rector of Christ Church, Stratford, from 1998 to the fall of 1999.

 While serving in the Waterbury area, he served as a member of the Board of the Children’s Community School in Waterbury. He was a communicant of St Paul Episcopal Church of Huntington, and was a member of the Order of St Luke, serving as chaplain.

His hobbies included golf, bowling, snowshoeing, skiing, and traveling.

Besides his wife of 59 years, he leaves a brother, the Reverend John F. Padgett of Jenison, Mich.; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother and sister, James A. Padgett and Myrtle E. Kalkman.

A Requiem Eucharist will be held on Saturday, January 26, at 11 am, in St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 25 Church Street, Huntington, with the Right Reverend Andrew D. Smith, bishop of the Diocese of Connecticut, as principal concelebrant, assisted by the Reverend Janet C. Wagoner, rector of St Paul’s. There are no calling hours.

The Alderson Funeral Home of Naugatuck, 201 Meadow Street, is in charge of arrangements.

Friends are asked to omit flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 25 Church Street, Huntington CT 06484.

The Newtown Bee        January 25, 2008