William Casper Frederick passed into the presence of God in his sleep at 2 a.m. Friday, April 28, 2006 in North Chili, N.Y. at age 97.

Staff at Mount Hope Episcopal Home relate that he was singing that day and looking forward to “graduation” as he called the end of his earthly life.

Bill was born on Jan. 23, 1909 in Jarretsville, M.D. and attended A.M. Chesbrough Seminary (later Roberts Wesleyan College) in North Chili, N.Y. Here he met and wed Myra Avis Hughes. After some years of teaching in LeRoy, N.Y. and raising cut flowers in Churchville, N.Y., Bill moved his family to Seattle to work on his doctorate in education degree at the University of Washington.

He taught and worked in administration in the Shoreline School District until his retirement. During this time he purchased property at Maxwelton Beach, where they spent summers and weekends until they retired to Whidbey Island. Here he was an active member of the Little Brown Free Methodist Church in Maxwelton.

Predeceased by his first wife, he became the beloved husband of Evelyn “Pat” Alexander; loving father of William (Vi), Robert (Traci), Richard (Dixie), Mary (David) Sanborn, Dixie Alexander, Stuart (Natalie) Alexander, and Elaine (Paul) Crowell; 11 grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; 14 step great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

He was a member of Gideons International, a fellow of Roberts Wesleyan College and a member of Pearce Memorial Church in North Chili, N.Y.

An informal memorial service for family, friends and acquaintances will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 4, at the House of Prayer, 5719 Pioneer Park Place, south off Highway 525, between Maxwelton and Bayview Roads. Memorials in his memory may be made to The Gideons International.