William "Bill" Kidwell

William "Bill" A. Kidwell, devoted husband, father and grandfather, died on December 29, 2018 after a brief battle with cancer. He was 76 years old. Born in Washington, D.C. to the late Marvin and Kathleen (Nimmo) Kidwell in January 1942, he married Patricia A. Means in June 1960. He enlisted and served almost four years in the U.S. Navy as an aircraft engine mechanic before joining C&P Telephone Company, later Verizon Communications, where he served in a variety of craftsman and later leadership positions for 29 years with perfect attendance. He is survived by his wife Patricia of 58 years; children Denise Gorrell (Lee) of Glenelg, Darlene Keister (John) of Woodbine, Robert Kidwell (Lori) of Ellicott City; and grandchildren Gary, Candace, Marissa, Jessica and Joshua. Bill is preceded  in death by his brother and sister. He is also survived by sisters-in-law and brother in law, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Before permanently retiring to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Bill resided in Clarksville, Maryland for nearly forty years. He loved to repair anything that was broken and spent numerous hours driving his tractor and working around his farmette. For over ten years following retirement, he drove a school bus in Howard County, Maryland and had a profoundly positive influence on many of the children he drove to and from school, encouraging them to strive to do better and improve their grades. He loved to dress up as Santa Claus and ride along on the afternoon kindergarten school run with his colleagues, handing out candy to the children. He was loved by all who knew him and enjoyed helping his many friends and colleagues, be it repairing a tractor, fixing a leaky faucet, or mending a broken walker. While living in Myrtle Beach, he spent many hours photographing alligators, birds and reptiles, always striving for that perfect shot.

Friends and family are invited to join the Kidwell family on Thursday, January 3 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Donaldson Funeral Home of Clarksville, P.A., 12540 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville, MD. 21029.  The family will receive friends again on Friday, January 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at which time a funeral service will be held in the funeral home. Interment immediately following at Columbia Memorial Park, 12005 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville, MD. 21029.

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