William J. "Bill" Bidgood, of Melrose, died at his home on May 20, 2017 at the age of 87. Bill was born in 1929 in Springfield, VT, raised in Cavendish (Proctorsville Village), VT. Bill graduated from Rutland High School class of 1947 & Norwich University class of 1951. Upon graduation from Norwich, Bill was sent to the Engineer School at Fort Belvoir, VA to study with the Army Corps of Engineers. Bill served proudly in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and received the Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star and the United Nations Service Medal. Bill was discharged as a First Lieutenant. While attending the Engineer School, he visited the Officers Club at the Lee House in Washington, D.C. where he met his wife (of 56 years) Helen, herself a First Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps who served in England and Germany during WWII. He resided in Hudson, MA for many years and the past 48 years in Melrose. While in Hudson he was involved with the Cub Scouts with their annual pinewood derby races and banquet. He was a Boy Scout Leader with Troop #635 at Incarnation Church in Melrose for several years. He organized Boy Scout trips throughout the region and to Vermont to hike the Long Trail section of the Appalachian Trail. On this last trip, the scouts camped for several days at Bill's place in Vermont, where the scouts built a bridge out of logs they had chopped and tied together with different types of knots they had learned in scouting. He was a member of the Norwich University Alumni Association. Bill was an avid coin collector, enjoyed traveling to Alaska & Germany and deer hunting with his sons and friends. At the site of his ancestral property in Cavendish (known as the Bailey and Stoddard farms—farms in Bill's family since 1818), Bill and his uncles built a family cabin, which Bill and his children have expanded over the years. He worked as a Civil Engineer and Sales Executive for Warren Pipe in Everett, Water Works Supply in Malden, Public Works Supply in Danvers, George Caldwell Co. in Stoughton, providing engineering solutions and pipe, fittings and valves for many water systems throughout New England, and lastly as an Estimator for Bidgood Associates, Inc. of Melrose. He had a strong work ethic and passed it on to others and provided unselfishly and generously for his family. Bill was the beloved husband of the late Helen Jean (McCabe) Bidgood, formerly of Grand Rapids and Flint, MI. Loving father of Mary M. Bidgood-Wilson & her husband Kenneth of Moultonboro, NH, Wm. John Bidgood, Jr. & his wife Maureen of Melrose, Elizabeth A. Curnane & her late husband Joseph, Jr. of Melrose, Paul F. Bidgood & his wife Patricia of W. Boylston, James B. Bidgood of Saugus, Peter D. Bidgood & his wife Lori of Melrose, Andrew M. Bidgood & his wife Allison of Atkinson, NH & George M. Bidgood & his wife Kerri of Melrose. Cherished grandfather of 20 grandchildren: Kimberly, Brad, Rob, Greg, Colleen, Jennifer, Rachel, Paul Jr, Sarah, Pauline, Jim Jr., Mary, Dean, Evan, Julia, George Jr., Kate, Megan, Kim, and Will and 6 great grandchildren: Patrick, Caitlin, Colin, Olivia, Giada and Kenneth Curtis. Caring brother of Janet Loughlin & her late husband Bruce James of NH and Curtis Bidgood of VT. Also survived by many nieces, nephews, relatives & friends. Visiting hours will be held at the Gately Funeral Home 79 W. Foster St., Melrose on Tuesday, May 23rd from 5-8 PM. Funeral from the Gately Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 24th at 8:45 AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at the Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 1155 Main St., Wakefield at 10 AM. Relatives & friends respectfully invited to attend. Interment in Hillcrest Cemetery, Cavendish, VT on Thursday, May 25th at Noon. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bill's name to Norwich University Office of Development, 158 Harmon Drive, Northfield, VT 05663 or the charity of your choice.