Former #144 Car Owner Bill Lyons Passes at 68
LYONS, William Phelps William Phelps Lyons, 68, of Granby, beloved husband of Anna L. (Blomquist) Lyons, passed away on Thursday (February 28, 2008) at St. Francis Hospital. Born in Westfield, MA, son of the late Newton and Edith Mae (Long) Lyons, he was a lifelong Granby resident. Bill was employed by the Town of Granby for over 40 years, retiring in 2001 as the Director of the Public Works Department. He was also a member and former Captain of the Lost Acres Volunteer Fire Department. Bill had many interests including collector of belt buckles, piggy banks, race cars, and airplanes.
He was the owner of a stock car #144, and raced at Riverside Park, Eastern States, and at other stock car raceways in New England. He enjoyed antique car restoration and woodworking, specifically making birdhouses and whirly gigs. At Christmas time, he made and donated many wreaths and crosses. An avid hunter and fisherman, after his retirement, Bill enjoyed helping out at Young Farms in East Granby.
Besides his wife, he is survived by four step daughters, Nancy Pelczar of Windsor Locks, Sylvia Vallee of Las Vegas, NV, Patricia Greenwood of South Newfane, VT, and Cynthia and her husband William Carroll, Jr. of LaMoure, ND; seven grandchildren, Jay Pelczar, Stanley Chrzanowski and his wife Lisa, Sheila and her husband Mike Newcomb, William Carroll, III and his wife Melissa, Bethany Carroll, Gillian and her husband Elijah Newman, and Anna Carroll; six great grandchildren, Stanley Chrzanowski, Veronica Chrzanowski, Ana Newcomb, Lily Newcomb, Kayla Brennon and Monte Carroll; and a brother, Newton Lyons and his wife Rose of Southwick, MA. He was predeceased by a brother, Horace Lyons.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, March 3, 1 p.m., at the Hayes-Huling & Carmon Funeral Home, 364 Salmon Brook St., Granby, with the Rev. Dennis Moon officiating. Burial, with Fire Department Honors, will follow in Granby Cemetery. His family will receive friends on Sunday, 2 – 5 p.m., at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Bill may be made to the Lost Acres Volunteer Fire Dept., PO Box 71, North Granby, CT 06060 or to the Granby Ambulance Assoc., PO Box 617, Granby, CT 06035. For on-line condolences, please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com
Sources: The Hartford Courant