William T. Reynolds

Berlin – William T. Reynolds, a long time and well known Berlin resident, died June 3, 2011, at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center with his beloved wife Elizabeth and his granddaughters by his side.
Bill was born March 30, 1919, in Petersburgh, NY, to Leyton and Nellie (Crandall) Reynolds. He attended grade school in Petersburgh and graduated from Hoosick Falls High School and Morrisville University. Always a hard worker, Bill’s first job was helping with a vegetable cart at age 15. After college he worked in the Metallurgy Department at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In 1945 he went to work in the Winding Room at W.J.Cowee’s in Berlin, NY, where he was employed for the next 35 years, working his way up to become the first Plant Manager who was not a member of the company owner’s family. Bill was a thinker and natural problem solver, and he enjoyed creating solutions to the challenge of the day. While at Cowee’s one of his inventions was the automated dye machine.
After retiring from Cowee’s he and his wife enjoyed woodcrafting for the next 18 years with Bill cutting the ornaments and Elizabeth painting them. He also had a lot of fun traveling with his wife in their camper, especially to Maine and cross country, too. A favorite stop was Mount Rushmore, and there was a special trip to Holland.
Bill and Elizabeth built their own camp at Dyken Pond where he was happy to spend as much time as possible with family. While his daughter was in school he served on the Berlin Central School District Board of Education. He was a charter member of the Taconic Valley Historical Society and the Berlin Bicentennial Committee. He enjoyed a hobby of photography and restored many old pictures, including all the past Fire Chiefs of Berlin. He was a faithful attendee and strong supporter of the Berlin United Methodist Church where he leaves behind many dear friends.
Bill Reynolds was a humble gentleman always. He was also a great tease and mischief-maker who delighted in kidding, especially his granddaughters. Family and friends enjoyed his quiet humor, caring ways and wry smile. He was known to many as a teacher of his trade as well as a coach in life, always helping people. Those who were his students have stories to tell of the lessons he shared, now for them to pass along to others.
While Bill was often serious it was not always so. His wife remembers when he was young when he rode up to her house on a motorcycle and she, disinterested at the time, thought he was quite the daredevil. Years later their courtship began at The Bridgeway in Cherry Plain, NY, when they each arrived at a dance with another partner and left instead with one another. They were married November 22,1942, at The Hayner House and continued to tenderly cherish each other until his last breath for just a few months short of a remarkable 69 years.
In addition to his parents, Bill is pre-deceased by his daughter, Penny Teal, as the result of a tragic car accident. He is also pre-deceased by his sister, Betty Reynolds Goodermote. He is survived by his “sweetheart” Elizabeth and his three granddaughters who are so important to him, Sherry Teal of Poestenkill, NY, and Shelley Teal and Jill Teal of Averill Park, NY. He is also survived by his great-grandsons, Corey Zareski II and Josh and Drake Teal-Gamble, and a special nephew and a special niece, Kent Goodermote and Lilly Hewitt, as well as several more family who will miss him dearly.
On June 18, the Saturday of Father’s Day weekend, Bill’s last wish will be realized when his ashes will be buried at the same time as his daughter’s in a private service for the family at Meadowlawn Cemetery in Petersburgh.
Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the United Methodist Church of Berlin. Arrangements are with the Thomas Barber Funeral Home.