William Laputz

A lifelong native of Waterford, Bill was born on August 16, 1922, the son of Barbara (Thier) and Kiril Laputz. His father passed away when Bill was eight leaving his mother to raise him and six brothers and sisters on land that is now Doyle Road in Waterford. He graduated Chapman Tech in New London and worked briefly at Electric Boat. Bill served in the US Armed Forces from November 1942 to November 1945 and was deployed to the US Army Air Base at Thetford, England in the 8th Army Air Corps, 369th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, finishing his service as Staff Sgt. Bill traveled to England on a Liberty Ship and returned on the converted Queen Mary with thousands of other troops. He often told his family that his berth on the way over was well below the waterline and Nazi subs were constantly threatening allied shipping but he slept easy anyway - he told his shipmates that a torpedo hit would do them all in so not to worry about it. He also told us he quickly figured out that the top bunk is best for sleeping in a rolling shipload of land-lubbers.

Bill returned to Waterford in 1945. He married Anna May Peabody in October 1947, and raised daughter Donna and step-son Gary. The Peabody farm was located on what is now Waterford's Wal-Mart. Bill owned and ran Laputz Electric Contracting for 40 years. Bill also served for 10 years as Chairman of the Waterford Building Board of Appeals, was a member of the Oxoboxo Lodge of Masons and was a lifelong member of the VFW and the Eighth Airforce Historical Society.

Bill and family were members of First Congregational Church of New London. They greatly enjoyed get-togethers of the Laputz and Peabody families, as well as square dancing, and, in later years, he and Anna May enjoyed memorable trips in the US and abroad, including reunions of the Eighth Air Force. Bill lost his beloved wife in 1991, much too soon. He wintered in Barefoot Bay, Florida, to live near his sister Irene for thirteen years of golf and relaxation, and where he was a member of the Sebastian Moose. At that time Parkinson's Disease began its relentless hold on him. Bill's enduring positive attitude about all that life brings to us, both the good and the bad, was an unforgettable lesson to us all. One of Bill’s last requests, from his hospital bed, was for a beer.

Bill leaves behind his loving daughter Donna Armstrong and her husband Dave of New London, step-son Gary Neff and his wife Carole of Naples, Forida, brother Stephen and his wife Virginia of East Greenwich, RI, and sister Helen Maynard of Milford, New Hampshire. In addition, there are also many Laputzs, Neffs and Peabodys in Connecticut, Rhode Island and across the country, and very close family friends Charles Medina of Waterford, Elaine and Steve Ricard of New London and Carol and Eddy Dobbs of Ledyard.

In addition to his wife, Bill was predeceased by brothers Alex, Johnny and Tommy; and sisters Irene and Anna.

The family is thankful to Fountainview Care Center in Waterford for the loving care provided to Bill in his final year.

A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at 12:00pm in Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home, 181 Ocean Ave., New London, CT 06320. Interment will follow in Jordan Cemetery, Waterford. A Visiting Hour will be held one hour prior to the service at 11:00am in the funeral home.

The family would like to request that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to your favorite charity.