Rev. Dr. William B. Udall, 86
Dateline: Mansfield, MA
Rev. Dr. William Bradford Udall, age 86, a resident of the Village at Willow Crossings in Mansfield, passed away on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at Sturdy Memorial Hospital surrounded by his wife and family following an active, healthy winter. He was the beloved husband of Nancy (Linn) Udall, to whom he was wed on June 6, 1953.
Born on September 28, 1930 in Cambridge, MA, he was the son of the late John L., Sr. and Mary Belle (Wilson) Udall.
Bill grew up in Wollaston, MA and moved to Mansfield in 1945, graduating from Mansfield High School in 1948. He graduated from Gordon College, Boston and Eastern Baptist Seminary, Philadelphia, becoming ordained in 1955. He returned to Eastern Baptist for his doctorate in family and marriage counseling.
A resident of Mansfield for the past 72 years, Rev. Udall was pastor of the First Christian Church in West Mansfield for 21 years from 1974 until 1995. He served as an interim pastor for many years in Worcester, Pocasset and Sharon. Prior to that, he worked at Vision New England (formerly Evangelistic Association) in Boston. After retiring he served as protestant chaplain for 14 years at Sturdy Memorial Hospital.
An active member of the First Baptist Church of Mansfield, he met his wife Nancy there as a teenager and still attended regularly.
Bill was an accomplished violinist and enjoyed traveling to Europe, fixing things around the house, walking and especially spending time with his grandchildren. He enjoyed vacationing in Maine and attending annual family reunions in Belgrade Lakes.
In addition to his wife of 63 years, he is survived by his devoted daughters Deborah Graham and her husband Philip, of Mansfield, Donna Nilson and her husband Bruce, Sr. of Harrisburg, PA, and Beth Nowak and her husband Michael of Charlotte, NC. He was cherished grandfather of Bruce Nilson, Jr. and his girlfriend Nancy Weindruch of Arlington, VA, Emily Nilson and her fiancée Crosby Hiss of Philadelphia, PA, Andrew Nilson of Somerville, Philip Graham and his girlfriend Christine Johnson of Boston, Curtis Graham of San Francisco, CA, Victoria Nowak of Seattle, WA and Megan Nowak of Charlotte, NC. He was the dear brother of the late Marjory Bingham, Richard Udall and his wife Alma, John Udall his wife Marjory, and is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
His funeral service to which you are cordially invited, will be held on Sunday, March 26th at 2:00 P.M. at the First Baptist Church, 52 North Main St., Mansfield. Burial will take place on Monday, March 27th at 2:00 at the Spring Brook Cemetery in Mansfield.
Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, March 25th from 6:00-9:00 P.M. at the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home, 55 North Main St., Mansfield.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Rev. Udall’s memory may be made to the First Baptist Church, 52 North Main St., Mansfield, MA 02048.
To send the Udall family a message of condolence, please visit www.shermanjackson.com