William A. Kempton - Bill - of St. Simons Island passed away at Hospice of the Golden Isles on July 26, 2020. He was the loving husband of Claire (Ferris) Kempton. They recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary.
He was born July 11, 1940, in New Bedford, Massachusetts to A. Thelma Gill and William A. Kempton. A native of Provincetown, MA, he was raised by his grandmother, Mary Gill, and attended Provincetown schools where he excelled in athletics.
Bill enlisted in the Unites States Navy in 1957 and proudly served for 20 years. He was an Aviation Hydraulics Mechanic and served on four aircraft carriers during his military service. Notably he served his country during the Vietnam era. He participated during the Cuban Missile Crisis; the shakedown cruise of the first Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Enterprise when it made its maiden voyage to sea; he spent three years with Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica at the South Pole; he was part of the flight crew for the Good Will Tour of the Admiral of the Western Pacific; and, he took part in the Cyprus Airlift. During his tours of duty, his service took him to five of the seven continents. An assignment to NAS Glynco in 1969, brought the family to Glynn County and St. Simons became home.
After military retirement, Bill was a Glynn County Police Officer for 20 years, including serving as watch commander on both St. Simons and the mainland. He enjoyed fishing, boating with his friends and most of all, being with his family.
Bill was a fan of the GA Bulldogs, New England Patriots, and all things “Volleyball.” He was an avid competitive volleyball player for the U.S. Navy in his younger years and locally after his retirement. Later, he enjoyed refereeing for middle and high school games as a GHSA official.
Bill is survived by his wife, Claire; daughters Kimberly Webb and son-in-law Richard of Connecticut and Stacey Bristol and son-in law Steve of St. Simons; granddaughters Jessica Webb (Kenneth Gurecki) and Kathryn Webb of Connecticut; grandson William Kempton Bristol of St. Simons; great-grandson Evan Gurecki of Connecticut; brother Robert Marderosian (Diana), sisters-in-law Janice Marderosian, Audrey Marderosian all of Massachusetts; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by his parents, his grandmother Mary Gill, his in-laws Claire and Harvey Ferris, and brothers Thomas and Martin Marderosian.
A Memorial Mass will be held at a later date at St. William Catholic Church on St. Simons Island. Memorials made be made to Hospice of the Golden Isles and St. Francis Xavier Catholic School, Brunswick, GA.
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