William “Bill” Wingard, 92, of Spring Lake, passed away peacefully Dec. 3 after a brief illness. Bill was a lifelong resident of Spring Lake, born Aug. 31, 1927.
Bill enjoyed growing up at the beach; attending grammar school and then graduating from Asbury Park High School in 1945. He enlisted in the Navy after graduation and attended basic training in Virginia. He served from 1945 to 1947. After his military service he attended Seton Hall College where he received his bachelor’s degree in business.
Bill became a member of the Spring Lake First Aid Squad and served as president and held various officer positions during the 17 years he was active. Bill worked as a lifeguard during the summers and it was in the summer of 1949 that he met his future bride Marie. Bill and Marie were married in Manhattan in 1951 and have called Spring Lake home for 63 happy years.
In 1951 Bill began his career with NJ Gravel and Sand Company where he worked his way up from being a truck driver to president, the title he held until his retirement.
Bill was committed to the town of Spring Lake in so many ways. He would work weekends in the summer as a special police officer, he served on the board of adjustment and planning board and the Juvenile Justice Conference Committee. Bill was also an honorary member of both the Goodwill Fire Company and Fire Company No. 1. He was a co-founder of the Monmouth County Chapter of the “200 Club” (formerly called the Blue Badge) and Bill remained an active member and trustee until his death.
Bill was elected to the Spring Lake Borough Council in 1980 and served for nine years. One of his greatest achievements was to bring the new police and fire department building to fruition. In 1979 Bill started an “Honor Roll” to list the residents who were killed in action in previous wars which is on permanent display at the Fifth Avenue side of Divine Park. He then became master of ceremonies for the annual “Spring Lake Remembers,” held Memorial Day to honor those fallen heroes.
Bill and Marie were the initial and continued sponsors of Sheriff’s Youth Week for the past 28 years. Bill has been on the foundation board of Jersey Shore University Medical Center for over 25 years and had generously given funds to build a nurse’s station at the new NorthWest Pavilion and had been instrumental in raising funds for the growth and development of the hospital. He was an avid Villanova Basketball fan and a member of the American Legion Post 432, Spring Lake.
Bill spent his time with Marie watching their golden retrievers and traveling together to dog shows all over the country. Bill was a longtime member of the Spring Lake Golf Club. He was also a man of deep faith and attended daily mass at St. Catharine’s Church.
Bill was predeceased by his wife of 63 years N. Marie in 2014. He is survived by his loving children, William “Bill” Wingard Jr. of San Diego, California; Ellen Gannon and her husband Kevin of Spring Lake; and James “Jim” Wingard and his wife Karin of Spring Lake. Bill was also the cherished grandfather to Denise (PJ) Klein of Wilmington, North Carolina; Christin (Michael) Nugent of Safety Harbor, Florida; and Cecelia, James and Matthew Wingard of Spring Lake. He was cherished great-grandfather to Hadley Drew and Georgia Pearl Nugent and Keegan Marie and Palmer Elizabeth Klein.
Family and friends were invited to attend a visitation Dec. 8 at Orender Family Home, Manasquan. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Dec. 9 at St. Catharine’s Church, Spring Lake. Interment followed at St. Catharine’s Cemetery, Sea Girt.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept 142, Memphis, TN 38101. To send condolences to the family please visit orenderfamilyhome.com.
