He was born in Keene, NH on November 18, 1939 the son of Merton and Lucille (Hurlbut) Proctor.
Bill grew up in Keene, attended Keene schools and was a 1957 graduate of Keene High School.
He served with the US Army as a Spec. 4 with Battery C 3rd Missile Battalion where he worked with the Hercules Missile program. He was honorably discharged in December 1965 after serving for nearly three years with the missile program.
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He was employed as by the Coca Cola Company and the Pepsi Cola Company as a product distribution sales manager. He was a former member of the Gordon-Bissell Post 4 American Legion and the Keene Lodge of Elks # 927.
Bill was a noted music historian and was an authority on Ink Spots and Black Vocal groups. He was a member of the Mills Brothers’ Society. He had many friends in the music industry including Tiger Haynes who performer the Wiz on Broadway, Herb Kenney, Jazz Guitarist Hughie Long, the Deep River Quartet in Holland the Platters and the late Lou Dumont.
He produced and wrote liner notes for Rare Air in the UK and by request of MCA records he was asked to do liner notes for the Ink Spots anthology in 1997. He loved rhythm and Blues music and music form the 40’s and 50’s. He was very proud of his extensive record collection. Besides his love for music was his love for his family and his many friends.
He is survived by his wife Sandra J. (Johnson) Proctor of Swanzey, NH; two sons; Todd J. Bellows and his wife Lorraine of Surry, NH and Brett J. Proctor and his wife Julie of Holyoke, MA; a daughter Wendy Bellows of Keene, NH; a brother James Proctor and his wife Nancy of Surry, NH and a sister Sandra J. Croteau and her husband Bernard of Keene; Three grandchildren; Jonathan D. Proctor of Florida, Kyle S. Bellows of Keene, and E-4 Katelynn A. Bellows serving with the US Navy on a Mercy ship in Guam; several nieces and nephews. He was pre deceased by his parents, a brother Richard and a sister Margaret Croteau.
Funeral services will be held in the Keene Church of the Nazarene, 55 Maple Avenue, on Wednesday morning, July 15th at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in the Mountain View Cemetery, Swanzey, NH. Family and friends are invited to call at the Foley Funeral Home, (www.foleyfuneralhome.com) 49 Court Street, Keene on Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The family suggest that memorial contributions be made in Bill’s name to the American Cancer Society, New Hampshire division, 2 Commerce Drive, Suite 110, Bedford, NH 03110.
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