William A. “Bill” Vail, Sr. died peacefully on Tuesday, November 19th in the Ichabod Washburn Hospice Residence surrounded by his loving children and grandchildren. His wife of nearly 50 years, Katherine V. (Roughan) Vail died in 2001. He leaves two sons, Robert W. Vail of Worcester and Thomas F. Vail and his wife, Karen (Favreau) of Auburn; seven daughters, Maureen K. Vail-Gannon and her husband, Robert of Rutland, Joanna F. Pike and her husband, Jeffrey of Charlton, Elizabeth A. Bartley and Mary A. O’Grady of Worcester, Katherine A. McWey and her husband, Michael of Cambridge, Patricia A. Vail-Lynch and her husband, Michael of Worcester and Anne M. Vail-McGrail and her husband, Brian of Shrewsbury; his brother, John P. Vail of Leicester; his sister, Alice Birkbeck of Worcester; his uncle, William Houston of Denver, CO; his 20 grandchildren; Stephanie, Jacquelyn, Jeffrey and Adam Pike and Christina (Pike) Kulvete; Casey Brian Vail, Stephen and Ryan Sandstrom; Kevin O’Grady and Jillian (O’Grady) Ocasio; R. Barry Bartley, Erin (Bartley) Mitchell and Cara (Bartley) Girouard; Joseph and Colleen Lynch; Shannon and Thomas McGrail; Brittany, Courtney and Hayleigh Vail. William also leaves 12 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his son, William A. (Fred) Vail, Jr. in 2006; his loving sister, Virginia A. Planinshek in 2010 and his identical twin brother, Robert W. Vail who was killed in action on Saipan in June of 1944.
William was born in Worcester on August 30, 1923, the son of the late Robert W. and Alice G. (Houston) Vail and was a graduate of South High School. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. alongside his brother Robert and proudly served our country during WWII. Mr. Vail retired as a Court Officer for the Massachusetts State Senate where he served for 29 years. He was a devout member of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church, a founder and past commander of the Main South Legion Post #341, a member of the VFW Post 8263 and was a member of the Worcester Lodge of Elks #243. An avid golfer, Bill was a lifelong member of Hillcrest Country Club and an active member of the “Growlers” golf gang. A proud family man, Irishman and lifelong Democrat, he was a long time member and delegate of the City of Worcester’s Democratic Committee.
Bill’s family wishes to thank the entire staff at the Ichabod Washburn Hospice Residence for their loving and compassionate care of our Dad during his final days.
In honor of our Dad’s service to this country and for the benefit of all of our veterans and active military, we ask that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in William’s name to one of the following: Veterans, Inc., 69 Grove Street, Worcester, MA 01605; The Wounded Warrior Project at https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org or to the Ichabod Washburn Hospice Residences, 1183 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01603.
William’s funeral will be held on Friday, November 22nd from O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue with a Mass at 10:00 AM in Our Lady of the Angels Church, 1222 Main Street. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery. Calling hours are 4:00 until 7:00 PM on Thursday, November 21st in the funeral home.