LACONIA ---- Richard 'Bill' William Bastraw, 90, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, surrounded by his loved ones.
Bill was born on September 25, 1934, and was 1 of 12 siblings born in Laconia, NH. He was predeceased by nine of them. Bill was raised on Old North Main St. in Laconia by Dr. Robinson "Doc" Smith, his wife Ruth, as well as loving friend Louisa Coginey. Bill's love for horses and harness racing began with "Doc" and at the age of 13 Bill was licensed as the youngest harness racer in the state. His love for horses remained his entire life.
Bill attended Norwich Military Academy with his childhood and lifelong friend Carroll "Butch" Stafford. He achieved the rank of captain while serving in the army reserves. The shenanigans the two of them got into will remain with them.
Bill was a school teacher, first teaching at a private school in Switzerland before moving back to NH where he taught at Inter Lakes High School in Meredith, NH. He would later be appointed superintendent of Union Cemetery in Laconia. He was very proud of this job. In his off time, he drove charter busses for Concord Trailways as enjoyment.
In 1961, Butch introduced Bill to Gwendolyn Chapman who became "the love of his life." Bill adopted Gwen's 3 children Michael, Peggy, and Barbara. Together they had Kristen, making a family of six.
Bill loved travel and traveled extensively, with his greatest adventure traveling around the world on a steam ship in the 90's, where he was able to drop a message in a bottle in the Sea of Japan to his older brother Eddie who was lost there during WWII.
Bill wanted it known that the two greatest influences of his life were Doc Smith and his loving wife Gwen of 62 years.
He leaves behind many family members and friends, as well as his second family at St Francis Nursing Home who cared and showed much love for both Bill and Gwen at the end of their lives.
Bill was predeceased by his daughter Peggy Hancock and his wife Gwendolyn. He leaves behind a son, Michael, of Laconia, NH; daughters Barbara, of VA, and Kristen of Laconia, NH. He also leaves behind, in his words "the 2 best sons-in-law a father could ask for," Randy Hancock, of Meredith, NH, and John Reid, of VA. Bill will be greatly missed by his grandchildren, Jaimon Hancock and his wife Lydia and great-granddaughter Mya, of Sacramento, CA, Jennica Hancock, and best friend Andrew Dean, of Concord, NH, and Caitlin Wayne and her husband Michael and great-grandson Cameron, of Millis, MA. Bill was thrilled to be able to meet Cameron and Mya in the months before his passing. He also leaves behind his sisters, Virginia Filgate, of Belmont, NH, and Sheryl Gunn, and her husband Rick, of Weare, NH, and many, many nieces and nephews.
There will be no services per Bill's request.
Please pass a smile along when you think of Bill.
For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations in Bill’s name be made to the New Hampshire Humane Society, PO Box 572, Laconia, NH 03247.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, NH, 03246, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.