William Timothy “Billy” Driscoll, aged 86, passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 30. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Elizabeth (Curtiss) Driscoll, his daughters Ellen Stotler and Patricia Carruthers, his son-in-law Jeff Carruthers, and his five granddaughters: Casey (Steve) DiBella, Kiley, Mackenzie, Cassidy and Kelly Stotler.

Born June 10, 1937, Billy was a lifelong resident of Norfolk. He was the son of the late Edward M. Driscoll Sr. and Sara (Murphy) Driscoll, and spent much of his youth and young adulthood on his family’s beloved dairy farm. He graduated from Gilbert High School in 1956 and served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to1963 and in the U.S. Army Reserve until 1967. He served as a military police patrolman in Korea for one year, and then as a military police dispatcher in Fort Bragg, N.C., where Betty joined him.

Shortly after his time on active duty in the military, Billy went to work for SNET, spending most of his career as a lineman until his retirement in 1999, a career that he greatly enjoyed, mostly because of the people he worked with.

Billy was a lifelong member of the Immaculate Conception Church, and a Norfolk volunteer fireman for many years.

A devoted family man, Billy cherished spending time with relatives, friends and neighbors. He loved to laugh and make others laugh too. He was happiest spending time working outside in his garden or in his barn and driving his tractors, and he enjoyed summer vacations to the ocean with his family. He loved Norfolk and its people and always had a smile and a good word to say to anyone he saw. Above all, Billy was a fantastic grandfather, and taught his five granddaughters almost everything they know—how to hit a wiffle ball, how to drive a tractor, how to find treasures at the town dump and how to play cards.

Billy’s positive, humorous attitude brought light to all who knew him, and he will be greatly missed. As he would always say, “Glad ya met me.”