This is shared from my Facebook page
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILL WILLARD---I want to share with the whole world what a wonderful man you are!
50 years ago, my sister married THE most wonderful man. Bill Willard came into our family when there were a lot of problems and chaos. His coming led to his younger brother Bob (ALSO a wonderful man) meeting and marrying my next older sister Nancy. Together they shephered us kids and even also helped to guide our parents to greener, safer pastures. I was 8 years old when Bill came. What a wonderful influence he has been on our entire family! Known as "Uncle Bill" to probably hundreds of people, and just beloved "Mr Bill" to so many others...he is loved by thousands, and all who know him. He helped to lead me to Christ when I was only 18 and has been better than 10 brothers could have been to me my entire life. When I left home at 19 it was he and Pat who took me in until I could afford to support myself. And many siblings since can say the same of either Bill & Pat or Bob and Nancy who also housed many of us at one time or another. He started a "Good Neighbor" backyard Bible club that was so popular in our little, poverty stricken neighborhood that he had to continue it year round in his basement once the summer was over. Then he bought a little bus and used to drive all those kids to church. So many kids were saved and follow Christ today as a result! He and Pat at one point built a 3 bedroom addition onto their house so they could take in a family of 3 kids, whose Mother was being counseled by Pat in the local jail, so they could be brought to visit her more often; as they lived too far away from her otherwise. They parented them for several years until she got out and lived near them until she could get on her feet again and get her kids back. At one point they had 7 foster kids along with their beloved son Chris. They later blessed our family by adopting 2 of them, and giving them that good Willard name. I could go on and on---part owner of the local Christian bookstore for years, they used a lot of the profit to help the needy in the area anonymously (I found out by accident) (Did you get a new washing machine and didn't know where it came from---it was probably from the Cornerstone Bookstore!) He left a massive hole in the heart of eastern CT when he moved to Texas. He had personally begun the Care and Share soup kitchen and food programs in our area that are still active 20 years later-- helping the poor and unfortunate in their time of need--which won him the prestigious Diamond Award for community service. And a diamond he surely has been and shown as in our lives. He moved to Texas and again became the heart of the church he is a part of. Being named an elder---but still the deep heart of a Deacon, he has served the elderly in the soup kitchens there, become 'Papa' to a little girl there who had no father ---and who has blessed and comforted his own heart after the death of his son Christopher. When my parents became unable to live at home anymore a few years ago, he gave up his den and his own private space with his wife, and took them in and cared for them lovingly and devotedly until they each passed away peacefully in his home last summer. Last summer he was still (at 70) out every day in the hot Texas sun mowing lawns for the elderly near him who had no one else to help them....
Friends THIS is what a godly man looks like! Humble, caring, and always smiling with the Joy of the Lord in his heart. Devoted loving heart, serving the needy with gladness.. WELL DONE thou blessed man of God! How we all Love you and bless you and wish you the HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS this day! We are SO VERY GLAD God brought you into our world, and made us a part of your blessed Life!!!
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