In Memory of
William Eugene
"Bill"
Worthen sr
"Bill"
Worthen sr
Obituary for William Worthen
William (Bill) Eugene Worthen Sr., 76, passed away on August 26th, 2013 at his home with his family by his side. He was born October 26th 1936 to Willis William Worthen Jr. and Fem Beatrice Bass in Clayton, Missouri.
Bill was raised in St. Louis, Missouri, living there until he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in November of 1955. He served his country for seven years, a service in which he was honored to do. While on leave in Canon City he met Joan Margaret Kessler. They became engaged and married a year later on January 21st, 1960 in St. Louis, Missouri. They celebrated 53 years of marriage this year.
After getting out of the Navy, Bill worked for Public Service Company in Denver, Colorado for seven and a half years. He wanted his two children raised in a smaller community. The family moved to Canon City in 1969. Bill was employed by the Colorado Department of Corrections working his way through the ranks, retiring as a captain in December of 1992, after 23 years of service. While working at D.O.C. he attended college earning both his A.A and B.S. degree in sociology while working full time and caring for his family. He also taught as a part-time professor at Pueblo Community College teaching criminal justice classes. He held the position for twenty-four years.
Bill joined the Fraternal Organization of Masons in 1965. He was a member of the Eureka Masonic Lodge #66 A.F.and A.M. in Coal Creek, Colorado. He was a member of the Southern Colorado Consistory, Al Kaly Shrine and a member of the Fremont Shrine Club. In 1998 Bill and his wife undertook the task of the restoration of the Masonic Lodge building in Coal Creek. The building was originally built in 1879, and was destroyed in 1907 after a fire destroyed most of the town of Coal Creek. It was rebuilt in 1908. Bill had the building put on the Colorado State Historical Registry in order to obtain grant money to help in the cost of restoration. During the restoration he had a rock pedestal built in which the lodge held a comer stone setting ceremony in which a one hundred year capsule was placed in the pedestal. The restoration project was a labor of love to him.
Bill served as Worshipful Master of Eureka #66 in the years 2000 and 2001. He was their current treasurer for the past seven years. He was a devoted mason in every sense of the word. Bill was responsible for the annual Christmas parties that are held at the lodge for the children of Coal Creek.
Bill was never one to sit idle, as he had many hobbies. He was a member of the Royal Gorge Gun Club, Fremont County Radio Control Airplane Club, Train Collection Association Club both State and National, preferring the 0 Gauge Lionel trains. Despite Bill's many interests, he still found time for his family. He dearly loved his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren; they all held a special place in his heart. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, stepmother Ethel Hardwig Worthen, and grandson Charles Gius.
Bill is survived by his wife Joan, daughter Deborah (Everett) Berry and son William Jr. (Linda) Worthen, eight grandchildren and seven great –grandchildren; sister, Susan (Bill) VanMatre; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m., Thursday, August 29, 2013 at the Wilson Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, August 30, 2013 at the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel, with interment following at Lakeside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Orchard of Hope Foundation at 111 Orchard Avenue, Canon City, CO 81212
Arrangements are under the care of Wilson Funeral Home. Online condolences @ www.wilsonfuneralhome.org
Bill was raised in St. Louis, Missouri, living there until he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in November of 1955. He served his country for seven years, a service in which he was honored to do. While on leave in Canon City he met Joan Margaret Kessler. They became engaged and married a year later on January 21st, 1960 in St. Louis, Missouri. They celebrated 53 years of marriage this year.
After getting out of the Navy, Bill worked for Public Service Company in Denver, Colorado for seven and a half years. He wanted his two children raised in a smaller community. The family moved to Canon City in 1969. Bill was employed by the Colorado Department of Corrections working his way through the ranks, retiring as a captain in December of 1992, after 23 years of service. While working at D.O.C. he attended college earning both his A.A and B.S. degree in sociology while working full time and caring for his family. He also taught as a part-time professor at Pueblo Community College teaching criminal justice classes. He held the position for twenty-four years.
Bill joined the Fraternal Organization of Masons in 1965. He was a member of the Eureka Masonic Lodge #66 A.F.and A.M. in Coal Creek, Colorado. He was a member of the Southern Colorado Consistory, Al Kaly Shrine and a member of the Fremont Shrine Club. In 1998 Bill and his wife undertook the task of the restoration of the Masonic Lodge building in Coal Creek. The building was originally built in 1879, and was destroyed in 1907 after a fire destroyed most of the town of Coal Creek. It was rebuilt in 1908. Bill had the building put on the Colorado State Historical Registry in order to obtain grant money to help in the cost of restoration. During the restoration he had a rock pedestal built in which the lodge held a comer stone setting ceremony in which a one hundred year capsule was placed in the pedestal. The restoration project was a labor of love to him.
Bill served as Worshipful Master of Eureka #66 in the years 2000 and 2001. He was their current treasurer for the past seven years. He was a devoted mason in every sense of the word. Bill was responsible for the annual Christmas parties that are held at the lodge for the children of Coal Creek.
Bill was never one to sit idle, as he had many hobbies. He was a member of the Royal Gorge Gun Club, Fremont County Radio Control Airplane Club, Train Collection Association Club both State and National, preferring the 0 Gauge Lionel trains. Despite Bill's many interests, he still found time for his family. He dearly loved his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren; they all held a special place in his heart. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, stepmother Ethel Hardwig Worthen, and grandson Charles Gius.
Bill is survived by his wife Joan, daughter Deborah (Everett) Berry and son William Jr. (Linda) Worthen, eight grandchildren and seven great –grandchildren; sister, Susan (Bill) VanMatre; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m., Thursday, August 29, 2013 at the Wilson Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, August 30, 2013 at the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel, with interment following at Lakeside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Orchard of Hope Foundation at 111 Orchard Avenue, Canon City, CO 81212
Arrangements are under the care of Wilson Funeral Home. Online condolences @ www.wilsonfuneralhome.org
