FEEDING HILLS – William W. Rose, 73, died Friday morning. Bill was born in Springfield and was a lifelong resident of Western Massachusetts. A retired Manufacturing Engineer, he worked for Curtis Universal Joint Company for 28 years. During the Vietnam War he served on the USS Fulton in the United States Navy. A passionate fisherman, he was president of the Western Massachusetts Fly Fishermen, President of the Westfield River Watershed Association and a member of Trout Unlimited. He recently became a master instructor for the Angler Education Program for the MA division of Fisheries and Wildlife. He also was a leader in the Feeding Hills Congregational Church, Operation Friendship (Feeding Hills) and the Agawam Soccer Association. Bill leaves his wife of 50 years Katharine I. (Bruce) Rose; three children Eric Rose and his wife Renee, Sean Rose, Shelley Rose and her husband Thomas Sliva Jr.. He also leaves his five grandchildren Elliot, Jordan, Peyton, Wyatt and Vienna; a brother James Brookes Jr.; three sisters Pam Lenninger, Mary Rose and Patty Borah. The funeral will be held at the Agawam Curran-Jones Funeral Home Wednesday at 11:00am followed by burial in Baptist Village Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held prior to the funeral home service Wednesday from 9:30am – 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Westfield River Watershed Association (https://www.westfieldriver.org/).
