William Milner Waddell

May 1, 2010

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William Milner Waddell 88, of Frankfort, IN, died at 9:08 a.m. Saturday, May 01, 2010 at Wesley Manor Retirement Community, following a prolonged illness. Born April 13, 1922 in Warren Township in Clinton County, IN to the late W. Waldo & Mary L. (Milner) Waddell. He married Jane Young on October 22, 1947 in Muncie, IN and she preceded him in death on January 11, 1998. Mr. Waddell attended Beard Elementary, Rossville High School and was a 1940 graduate of Frankfort High School. He was a 1947 Ball State Graduate and received his M.S. from Butler in 1951. He also attended classes at Western Michigan, Columbia, Michigan State, Western Illinois, Indiana University, Purdue University, George Washington University of St. Louis and University of Singapore. A lifelong Clinton County resident, he taught High School Social Studies at the Community Schools of Frankfort for 40 years, retiring in 1987. A veteran of WWII serving in the Navy, he attained the rank of Lt. Commander and was Commanding Officer of the USS LC (FF) 656, serving from 1943-1946 in the Pacific Theater. He also retired from the U.S. Navy Reserve. His memberships include, First Evangelical Presbyterian Church where he was lifetime member and past deacon, the American Legion, lifetime member of N E A, member Indiana Classroom Teachers, and Frankfort Classroom Teachers where he was president 2 years. He was past member of the Elks, Moose, Frankfort Country Club and served as City Councilman for 36 years.

Visitation and Services

Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, May 6, 2010 at Goodwin Funeral Home, 200 S. Main St., Frankfort. Tom Jameson will officiate. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 5th from 3-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Green Lawn Memorial Park. Memorial donations may be made to the First Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 352 W. Clinton St., Frankfort. Envelopes will be available.

Survived by:

2 Daughters: Kristen Gordon of Plymouth, IN and Karen Paxson of Greenwood, IN 1 Son: William Y. ‘Chip’ (Letty) Waddell of Concord, NC 1 Sister: Virginia Isley of Crown Point, IN 9 Grandchildren and 7 Great Grandchildren

Preceded by:

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jane, brother, Howard and sister, Pat McCreary.

Condolences

25 Condolences for “William Milner Waddell”

  1. Gary and Jan Kersey May 2, 2010 at 8:43 pm

    A fine person has left us and will be so missed. I remember Bill and our days at Frankfort Senior High. He was a mentor, friend, and an excellent all around guy. Loved his stories, his caring attitude and his ability to do so much for kids and our community. Always looked forward to Bill’s gifts of garden items which we’d find on our doorstep ever so often.
    Enjoyed visiting with him while he was a resident at the Manor and he’d always say, “Kers you better not wait too long to come back to see me”. He will be missed.
    Fondly,
    Gary and Jan Kersey

  2. Mike Brackett May 3, 2010 at 6:23 am

    This man was a great teacher; he had the ability to be challenging without being intimidating. He was ornery and lovable. His smile will never be reproduced.

  3. Steve and Margy Brehmer May 3, 2010 at 9:43 am

    To Karen – our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. He was my favorite teacher. He be missed.

  4. Karen Walker May 3, 2010 at 2:03 pm

    Bill will be missed dearly, he truly was a great guy. I think of him fondly each spring when the rhubarb is coming up.

  5. Paula Gibson Miller May 3, 2010 at 2:12 pm

    Sorry to read about Mr.Waddell, he was a good teacher. I graduated in 1970.
    Paula Gibson Miller

  6. Jerry (Myers) Tucker May 3, 2010 at 3:39 pm

    Bill was a fine human being, he was tough, but fair. I enjoyed working with Bill in the summer on construction jobs.

  7. Paula Davis Perkins May 4, 2010 at 8:57 am

    My condolences to the Waddell family. Mr. Waddell was a wonderful teacher and will be missed.

  8. Ken Walters May 4, 2010 at 9:32 am

    Heaven just received a “big butter and eggs man from the midwest”…God Bless, Sailor Bill!

  9. Greg Finch May 4, 2010 at 10:02 am

    Bill was the first teacher I ever knew as a person outside the classroom. When the Waddell’s lived at the end of North Columbia, I was part of the neighborhood ‘gang’ of kids who actually played outside all day, and Chip’s yard was grand-central station for everyone. Mr. Waddell’s classrooms were always lively–he taught history without opening a book because he had lived so much of it himself. He supported me as a student and as a person. I’ll never forget the time when Mr. Waddell hosted the Key Club Class of 1974 seniors at Morris Bryant–and he passed around a box of cigars after we ate dinner. He will always be one of a kind, a solid citizen who led by example and with his wife, raised three great children. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

  10. Tracy Baker May 4, 2010 at 10:16 am

    What a wonderful teacher who taught his class as he lived life. He will be missed.

  11. Charlie Agnew May 4, 2010 at 12:27 pm

    I’m sorry for the Waddells. I enjoyed him in class and at Sunday school. He was a very warm and intelligent man, and I’m sure you were all very proud of him.

  12. Russ Milligan May 4, 2010 at 12:47 pm

    Bill was a great friend and mentor in my first year of teaching which was his last year at Frankfort. Bill was always a familiar and friendly face at the softball games where I coached his granddaughter, Jill. Bill met strangers and departed them as friends.

  13. Karen Wilkerson May 4, 2010 at 1:15 pm

    Karen and family,
    My condolences to you all. Be gladdened by all the lives he touched and how he will be remembered by so many. I have such fond memories of him at ALL kinds of sporting events and lounging at the Paxson’s pool area. He was a genuinely kind man with whom I always enjoyed sharing a laugh. His vegetables graced the Wilkerson table for many a summer. You have cause to celebrate his life well-lived!
    With love and sympathy…Karen

  14. Angie Tegarden Willis May 4, 2010 at 6:47 pm

    My favorite teacher, amazing man. He served his country, his city and his students with all his heart. My prayers are with his children and their families. May the beautiful memories bring you peace and comfort in the days ahead.

  15. Pamela (Hodge) Davis May 4, 2010 at 7:33 pm

    Mr. Waddell was a good teacher; with a wonderful sense of humor and and a gift of teaching, what I thought, was a boring subject!!! I have wonderful memories of him.

  16. Jack and Mindie (Lucas) Thomas May 4, 2010 at 9:34 pm

    Our hearts go out to the Waddell family. Mr. Waddell was the type of teacher who remained in your heart even after you graduated. Our children have heard many stories from our days in his class.
    You will be missed, Mr. Waddell.

  17. Ricky Bybee May 4, 2010 at 9:46 pm

    A true American treasure has passed. Sympathies to you Chip and your family. Class of 78.

  18. Joyce Laughner Boyer May 5, 2010 at 1:32 am

    My sympathy to the Waddell Family. I had Mr. Waddell in High School. He made learning enjoyable. He was a good and kind man and will be missed.

  19. Virgil Gibson ’63 May 5, 2010 at 5:43 am

    Sailor Bill. I have many fond memories of classes with Mr. Waddell. He really tried hard, and with some success, to get us interested in things outside Indiana. I only remember a few of my teachers over the years, and Mr. Waddell is one of them. I ended up being a career sailor, and I guess his positive influence informed that decision as well, and it was good for me. He definitely left the place a little better than he found it. I can only hope for a similar outcome. Fair winds, and we’ll meet up in the next port of call!

  20. Bob King May 5, 2010 at 10:09 am

    I remember Bill as a great teacher and he will always be remembered and missed.

  21. Jim Smith May 5, 2010 at 11:14 am

    A great man who not only taught you social studies, but also taught you about life and the history that was made in his lifetime. A great lose is being felt through out Clinton County. God bless and be with his family in this time. REST IN PEACE Mr Waddlell You will be missed.

  22. Nancy Beavers Kesselmayer May 5, 2010 at 11:51 am

    Bill was my teacher both at Kyger Grade School and Frankfort High School. We shared the same birthday, and on my 12th birthday he played a practical joke on me which I immediately turned around and played one on him. We laughed about that for years when we ran into each other. I always enjoyed being in his classroom, he made learning fun. My deepest sympathy to his family.

  23. John, Sally Peters and children May 6, 2010 at 3:21 pm

    “J.B.’s Grandpa,” as we called him, was an enjoyable man to be around at the baseball games when J.B. and Kurt played. Also at the Center Grove basketball games. We missed seeing him around when he no longer made the trip down. I think about our trip around Amish Country with him every time I go up to our friend’s cottage up near Emma. The three of us had an Amish adventure that day. We always enjoyed the yummy, fresh produce he brought with him, too!
    Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the kids, Karen. Your family had the same relationship as ours does with their Grandpa and I know he will be greatly missed by you all. Sorry we are in Memphis and could not pay our respects.

  24. Annette Sharpe May 7, 2010 at 10:19 am

    My heartfelt sympathy to you, Kris, the kids and families. Although I didn’t know your Dad, WOW! What a great guy he was from reading the many beautifully written comments about him. Love, thoughts, and prayers from Annette. Hope to see you in Plymouth on July 13.

  25. Jim Henning May 10, 2010 at 10:57 am

    Chip and family,
    So sorry for your loss, Mr. Waddell was a very special person.
    I always wished I had him for a teacher but was lucky that my sisters did and shared his stories. I knew him as an excellent father to my friend Chip, my sympathies to the family, Jim

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