William James O'Donnell

William James O'Donnell, 70, a lifelong resident of Cambridge, died peacefully at home on Saturday, October 13, 2012. He was the beloved husband of Ada (Leslie) O'Donnell.

Born April 9, 1942 at Mary McClellan Hospital he was the son of Francis T. and Josephine (Messina) O'Donnell. Bill graduated from Cambridge Central School, class of 1960 and worked at Hoosick Falls Undergarment and then in Bennington for Bostwick & Legett.

In 1971 Bill dedicated his life to working in law enforcement. First, he was a member of the Cambridge Police Department where he was chief for a time. He then joined the Washington County Sheriff's Office and was currently a Deputy Sheriff. He was also a firearms instructor for the Sheriff's office as well as a self-employed process server.

For a number of years he ran a car repair shop and a gun repair shop from his home on Maple Avenue.

Bill also enjoyed a number of hobbies including photography, metal detecting and archeology. He worked on the ABC archeological site in Cambridge and was instrumental in getting it registered with New York State.

He was a communicant of St. Partick's Church; a member and on the Board of Directors of the Owlkill Rod and Game Club and a proud member of the National Rifle Association.

His first wife, Patricia (Hatch) O'Donnell, died in 1993.

Along with his wife of 18 years, Ada, he is survived by two children, Kimberly Shufelt and husband Robert of Clifton Park and Timothy O'Donnell of Webster, NY; two step-sons, Brent Dupras of Cambridge and Aaron Dupras and wife Barbara of Felton, Delaware; six grandchildren, Garrett Shufelt, Jordan O'Donnell, Brittany and Jonathan Dupras and T. J. and Taylor Fisher and mother-in-law, Edna Moon of Cambridge.

Friends and relatives are invited to call on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 from 4 to 7 PM at Ackley & Ross Funeral Home, 73 West Main Street, Cambridge.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at St. Patrick's Church, 17 South Park Street, Cambridge with burial following at St. Patrick's Cemetery, Center Cambridge Road, Cambridge.

For those wishing to remember Bill in a special way, the family suggests making a donation to the Owlkill Rod and Gun Club, P. O. Box 21, 312 Center Road, Eagle Bridge, NY 12057.
 

 

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