Bill enlisted in the Air Force at the age of 21 and served as a combat control technician, aerospace control & warning system technician (radar operator & controller), military training instructor (drill sergeant), and retired as a fuel supervisor after 26 years of dedicated service at home and abroad. His tours of duty included: Vietnam, Thailand, Iceland, the United States, and he was commended for crossing the Arctic Circle. During his career he visited 48 out of 50 states (all but North and South Carolina). Bill retired from active military service as master sergeant.
Bill earned his Associate's Degree of Liberal Arts from Maria Regina College in Syracuse, NY. He went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree of Applied Arts & Sciences, as well as a Master’s Degree of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas State University (formally Southwest Texas State University).
Bill’s hobbies included spending time with his family & friends, RV’ing & traveling – Bill & Judy’s favorite place to be was in Port Aransas, TX where they honeymooned, and being a ham radio operator where his call sign was WCØB (Whiskey, Charlie, Zero, Bravo). One of his proudest accomplishments was teaching the grand kids to fish and ride bikes.
Bill was a devoted husband, father, and papa who loved the Lord, knew Jesus as his Savior, and spent time in God’s word daily.
He was preceded by his father, Ellis Leroy Bedwell, mother, Elsie Wooten Bedwell and sister, Doris Giltner.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 33 years, Judy Bedwell. He is survived by his brother-in-law, Roy Giltner; children: Douglas Bedwell, Keith Alan Bedwell; step-sons: Rick Tapp and his wife Lacey, Billy Tapp and his wife Dana; grandchildren: Douglas Bedwell Jr., Joseph Bedwell, Jennifer Funston, Alexis Schaefer, Taelor Lukenbill, Jesse Jicha, Jewel Tapp, Toby Tapp, Ricky Tapp, Tommy Tapp; great-grandchildren: Daniel Berg, Brandi Gossage, Clayton Bedwell, Ethan Bedwell, Alex Bedwell, Michael Fairchild, Remy Falconer, Jack Lukenbill, Lacey Schaefer, Levi Schaefer, Luke Schaefer, Lawson Schaefer, Davy James Jicha, Tessa Jicha and great-great-grandson, Garrett Gossage Jr.
Services for Bill will be held Saturday, August 5, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Olinger Andrews Caldwell Gibson Chapel, 407 Jerry Street, Castle Rock, CO 80104, followed by the presentation of Military Honors at 2:00 PM.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.OlingerAndrews.com for the Bedwell family.
