Obituary for William Dickinson Ravenscroft Jr.
William Dickinson Ravenscroft Jr. (Dick), age 88, passed away at his home, on November 20, 2019, with his wife of sixty-five years, Nancy Wells at his side. He was born on February 21, 1931 in his parents’ home in Bangor Maine. The son of William Dickinson Ravenscroft Sr. and Thelma Nelson, he was raised on Avalon Farms in Bantam Connecticut.
He graduated from Litchfield High School and worked for a short time at the Litchfield Enquirer before choosing his profession; Fruit Grower. He served his country with the Army MPC, stationed in Germany from 1952 to 1954. He graduated from The University of Maine at Orono and went on to manage Avalon Farms, the orchard that his Father had also managed. He was a member of the Connecticut Pomological Society. He later worked at Rogers Orchards in Southington and after his retirement, enjoyed some light work at Karabin Farms in Southington. He was a volunteer firefighter, EMT, ambulance driver and Fire Chief for the Bantam Fire Company. He later volunteered at the Southington and South Kensington Fire Departments. He enjoyed snow skiing, boating, camping and vegetable gardening. He especially enjoyed fishing various Connecticut brooks for trout, for shad on Saint Johns River in FL with his Father-in-Law, and for salmon with Pat Stewart on the Miramichi River in McNamee, New Brunswick.
In addition to his wife Nancy, he is survived by his daughter, Sandra Newton (Jeff), his sons Richard, William (Mike) and Douglas, his adopted son Daniel and his foster son Rafael Gonzalez. He also leaves his grandchildren, Elliot Newton, Laura Newton, Leslie Cruz (Julian) and Sarah Ravenscroft. He was predeceased by his brother Robert.
Thanks to Hartford Hospital and Hartford Healthcare Hospice care providers for their exceptional care these last five weeks.
Family and friends may call at Thurston Rowe Funeral Home 283 Torrington Road in Litchfield on Tuesday Nov. 26 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Burial will follow in Bantam Cemetery.
Condolences and memories can be shared at www.rowefuneralhome.net. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made, in Dick's memory, to the Bantam Fire Company, P.O. Box 456 Bantam, CT. 06750.
He graduated from Litchfield High School and worked for a short time at the Litchfield Enquirer before choosing his profession; Fruit Grower. He served his country with the Army MPC, stationed in Germany from 1952 to 1954. He graduated from The University of Maine at Orono and went on to manage Avalon Farms, the orchard that his Father had also managed. He was a member of the Connecticut Pomological Society. He later worked at Rogers Orchards in Southington and after his retirement, enjoyed some light work at Karabin Farms in Southington. He was a volunteer firefighter, EMT, ambulance driver and Fire Chief for the Bantam Fire Company. He later volunteered at the Southington and South Kensington Fire Departments. He enjoyed snow skiing, boating, camping and vegetable gardening. He especially enjoyed fishing various Connecticut brooks for trout, for shad on Saint Johns River in FL with his Father-in-Law, and for salmon with Pat Stewart on the Miramichi River in McNamee, New Brunswick.
In addition to his wife Nancy, he is survived by his daughter, Sandra Newton (Jeff), his sons Richard, William (Mike) and Douglas, his adopted son Daniel and his foster son Rafael Gonzalez. He also leaves his grandchildren, Elliot Newton, Laura Newton, Leslie Cruz (Julian) and Sarah Ravenscroft. He was predeceased by his brother Robert.
Thanks to Hartford Hospital and Hartford Healthcare Hospice care providers for their exceptional care these last five weeks.
Family and friends may call at Thurston Rowe Funeral Home 283 Torrington Road in Litchfield on Tuesday Nov. 26 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Burial will follow in Bantam Cemetery.
Condolences and memories can be shared at www.rowefuneralhome.net. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made, in Dick's memory, to the Bantam Fire Company, P.O. Box 456 Bantam, CT. 06750.