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William Raymond Laprade September 2, 1921 to April 27, 2012 Bill Laprade was born in Leominster, Massachusetts to Bill and Adelaide (Shepard) Laprade and grew up in the same French Hill neighborhood. He excelled in sports, playing football and basketball for Leominster High School. In his senior year, he was named All-State, as a football center. In World War II, he served his country in the Naval Air Transport Service as an aviation machinist mate. As part of the German submarine interdiction program, he shuffled between Miami, Cuba, and Brazil throughout the war. Bill spent his whole career in the plastics industry. Starting at Cote & Lambert as a machinist before the war, he then moved to Union Products after the war, when they merged with Cote & Lambert. With his intelligence and strong work ethic, he worked his way up to superintendent of the tool and die shop. While continuing to work 50 hours a week, he attended evening classes at Fitchburg State College to get his engineering degree, which led to a mechanical engineering position at DuPont. Over the following years, his DuPont career took him to Tennessee, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Bill held patents for two plastics products, a testament to his inventive mind. Later in his retirement, Bill lived in Lexington, Kentucky and Pawleys Island, South Carolina to be near his daughter Nancy. The love of his life was Eleanor. They met at a high school dance in 1939 and have been sweethearts ever since. They married in May 1944, were stationed in Miami Beach during the war, and then moved back to Leominster to start a family. They raised Bill, Nancy and Bob in a loving, nurturing manner. Golf was a passion throughout his life. He treasured the exercise and the friendships that he developed at his home courses. He was very proud of his hole-in-one at the age of 70. A jack-of-all-trades was he. Woodwork, electrical, plumbing and landscaping were things that he mastered with hard work and a keen mind. During retirement, he became an accomplished stain-glass artist, using his artistic and engineering skills. Bill loved to read, and was a Civil War history buff. Above all else in his life, Bill was a loving and compassionate family man. His bond with his soul mate Eleanor was exemplary. His love for Bill, Nancy and Bob was deep and warm. We will miss him for his wry humor, his dedication to strong principles, his quiet strength, and his friendly, positive outlook. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor; his children, Bill (Mary Lou), Nancy (Keith), and Bob (Rajani); his grandchildren, Jed (Jessi), Joseph (Raphael), Thomas, and Marina; and his great grandchildren, Lyla and Willy. A funeral mass will be held at Precious Blood Of Christ Catholic Church in Pawleys Island, SC on Monday April 30, 2012 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Tidelands Community Hospice in Georgetown, SC or the Alzheimer's Association. Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Tributes

William Laprade

September 2, 1921 - April 27, 2012