William Churchill Morris

William Churchill Morris, 89, of Wethersfield, beloved husband for 64 years of Ann Margurite (Weber) Morris, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 21, 2022. Wethersfield’s native son, he was born on March 24, 1933. He was the son of the late John E. and Edith (Orland) Morris. He was born and raised on one of Wethersfield oldest farms, Morris Farms, established before 1800, which was located on the Broad Street Green. As a young man, he operated a successful greenhouse business growing flowers. Bill was one of the first farmers to sell bedding plants from his greenhouses in the spring and he was well known for his beautiful Easter Flowers that were sold around the area.

Bill volunteered for the Army Air National Guard in 1957 and graduated from the Army Aviation School for airframe maintenance, and maintained his service for three years. Bill was an avid aviator and lifelong pilot, having owned multiple planes and holding his license until late in life.

Bill moved around the corner to Elm Street in 1960 with his new wife Ann and started their family. Bill was a graduate of Hartford State Technical College and the University of New Haven, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Science Administration. Bill later taught Fire Technology and Fire Science Administration at Hartford State Technical College for many years. Bill was a volunteer fireman in Company One in Old Wethersfield for over 25 years and reached the rank of Captain. In 1961, he took a position with Pratt and Whitney Aircraft’s fire department and worked his way up through the ranks from Technician, Lieutenant, Captain, culminating his career as Fire Chief. He retired from Pratt & Whitney in 1992.

Bill also established a successful fire equipment business, Wethersfield Fire Equipment, which he ran for many years. In retirement, he was a regional sales manager for Sutphen Fire Equipment, selling fire apparatus to local municipalities.

Bill was predeceased by his loving wife Ann who passed just four months ago, as well as his brother Frank H. Morris who passed in March of 2011.

Bill will be forever missed by his six children, William J. Morris of Suffield, John Morris and wife Laura of Wethersfield, Timothy Morris and wife Ellen of Kensington, Christopher Morris and wife Maria of Bethel, Daniel Morris and wife Mandee of Glastonbury and Mary Ellen Courtemanche and husband Steve of Newington and his 13 adored grandchildren, Racheal, Ethan, Sydney, Hannah, Patrick, Bryan, Katherine, Jonah, Danielle, Michael, Garrett, Wyatt and Clayton.

Calling hours will be Wednesday, December 28, 2022 from 9 - 10:15 a.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield. A Funeral Service will follow at 11 a.m. at the First Church of Christ, 250 Main Street, Wethersfield. Burial with military and firefighter honors will be in Village Cemetery, Wethersfield.

Donations in Bill’s memory may be made to the Connecticut Firefighters Association (CSFA), P.O. Box 9, Mansfield Center, CT 06250. https://ctfirefighterscf.org/donate.html To share a memory of Bill with his family, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com