William S. Bill"" Meeker

William S. ""Bill"" Meeker, 73, of Rocky Hill, husband of Phyllis (Best) Meeker, died Friday, (February 25), 2011 at The Reservoir Care and Rehabilitation Center in West Hartford. Born in New Haven, he is the son of DeLorise (Gregory) Meeker of Hartford and the late William H. Meeker, Jr. and lived in Wethersfield for 27 years prior to moving to Rocky Hill 11 years ago. Bill had a distinguished career as vice president of the Fox Steel Company in Orange for 37 years before retiring in 1999. He was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of Wyllys - St. John Lodge # 4 AF & AM in West Hartford for more than 50 years and the United States Power Squadron. Bill most enjoyed his family, boating, skiing and traveling. Besides his loving and devoted wife of 50 years and his caring mother, he is survived by two cherished children; a son, Craig Meeker and his wife Jennifer of Farmington; a daughter, Lori Gurskis and her husband Kevin of Wethersfield; a brother, James Meeker and his wife Camille of East Granby; two sisters; Val Stelma and her husband William of East Granby and Elizabeth Gaulton and her husband Peter of Cromwell and his ""sunshine"", three loving granddaughters, Ashley and Courtney Meeker and Sarah Gurskis. Bill is also survived by a brother-in-law David Best and his wife Cynthia of Tolland and a sister-in-law Dolores Wentworth and her husband John of Newington as well as many nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be Wednesday, March 2 at 11:30 AM at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield with the Rev. T. Michael McDowell officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Memorial Park, Rocky Hill. Calling hours will be two hours prior to the service on Wednesday, March 2, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the funeral chapel in Wethersfield. Those wishing to make memorial contributions may send them to CURE P.S.P., 30 E. Padonia Road, Suite 201, Timonium, MD 21093. For on-line expressions of sympathy, please visit www.desopo.com.