William J. “Bill” Hosking, 83, of Springfield, passed away on July 26, 2018 at his residence. He was born on November 24, 1934 in Springfield to Clifford J. and Lillian M. (Dixon) Hosking. Bill married Virginia A. Sharrow on May 22, 1966 in Lorraine, Illinois at the Centennial-Ebenezer Methodist Church and she survives.
Mr. Hosking is also survived by two sons: Brian John (Nicola) Hosking of Chicago and Michael Roy (Katrina) Hosking of Charles Town, West Virginia and two grandchildren: Alexander John Hosking and Lillian Kaye Hosking.
Bill graduated from Stuart Grade School in 1948, Springfield High School in 1952 and Arizona State University in 1956 with a B.S. Degree in Economics and Management. He retired from the State of Illinois Department of Human Services as a Public Service Administrator in December of 1999 after thirty six years of service. William served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps 1957-1959. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church for over fifty years. He volunteered at the Lincoln Home National Historical site, worked as an escort at Memorial Medical Center, Sangamon Auditorium (SAVA) and Charter docent at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Bill was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha social fraternity, sixty year member of Springfield Lodge #4 A.F & A.M., sixty year member of Springfield Consistory AASR, fifty year member of Ansar Shrine serving as chaplain for 15 years. He was a Life Member of the Ansar Legion of Honor and served as their chaplain for fifty four years.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00am on Wednesday August 1, 2018 at First United Methodist Church, 2941 Koke Mill Road and a graveside service will be held at 2:00pm at Ebenezer Cemetery in Golden, Illinois. The family will meet friends from 5:00-7:00pm Tuesday at Bisch Funeral Home West, 2931 Koke Mill Road. Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children or to the First United Methodist Church and please visit the online “Life Remembered Story” at www.bischfuneralhomewest.com.
