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J W Breakfield Jr
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Joe Breakfield posted a condolence
Thursday, March 23, 2017
My name is Joe Breakfield and Billy and I were friends. No, more than that - we were best friends for over 50 years. As they say, we were brothers from another mother.
I apologize in advance for the length of this little speech. When I remember Bill there's so much to remember. It's hard to cut it down - although I did eliminate anything where the statute of limitations may not have expired yet.
I met Billy when my family moved to Broomall in 1963. I was 13, he was 11. I lived half way up Rose Tree Drive and Billy lived at the bottom of the cul-de-sac.
Not real sure exactly how we actually met or why we seemed to click right off the bat. Bill's mom - who I never really knew - kept him on a short leash and he was kind of shy and withdrawn in general. I think we had that in common. It probably explains his interest in ham radio at the time - ( he had one in the basement) - it was a way to be somewhere else, talking to people far away but still at home.
In those early years we hung out together and listened to music and played basketball in his backyard and generally just pal'd around. After his mother passed away, he started to come more out of his shell. His father, Bill 3, was a great guy and let Billy find himself. Sometimes that took a strange turn. Like when I hadn't seen him for a few days and he asked me to come over to see something. He had painted the downstairs family room in dark purple with black lights and black light posters and tapestry on the wall and rabbit furs on boxes where the records were on top of which were candles and those lamps where the inside filament goes back and forth - he called it a wabbada wabbada bulb. It was like Bill had come out of a shell. Not sure if his dad realized what he had unleashed.
It is said, and I know this to be true, that you can trace your life through the music you listened to. You hear a song and it takes to back to a time in your life and triggers other memories. I trace my life experiences through my memories of Bill and the things we did together.
It's hard to talk about Bill without using "we". Our lives were so intertwined for so long. We lived together at different times in Broomall, in Montclair, NJ and West Orange NJ. One summer we ran the rides on the Million Dollar Pier in Atlantic City and enjoyed the target rich environment of girls in bathing suits. Billy was a chick magnet with his tan and blond hair and easy going manner. We were salt and pepper and each other's wing man. Everyone should have a summer like that with their best friend - it was downright magical and I will always remember it.
We also worked together in an electronics plant in NJ and we nailed shingles on roofs together. He gave me my first beer and passed me my first joint and my first chew of Copenhagen. We went on many camping trips. He always wanted eggs and spam for breakfast when camping. It was our tradition. I think he just liked to say "eggs and spam...spam and eggs" - just like that - from the Monty Python record for those of you old enough to remember it. We went on many spur of the moment long drives - like to VA and Canada - for no reason other than to take the trip together. He liked to drive....I liked to drive.
On our trip to Canada we took our camping stuff. Figured we'd find some place to camp along the way back after cruising Montreal for French babes. Yea! We had one track minds back then. By the time we left Canada it was dark so we found a carve out in the road where we could park and hike into the woods and set up the tent. It seemed all our camping involved setting up in the dark and usually in the rain so we were used to it. We passed over some old RR tracks and used the flat ground next to them to set up. Bill walks off further to pee and we make a quick Dinty Moore Beef Stew dinner - another tradition - and crawled into our sleeping bags for the night. Round about 3 or 4 in the morning, we were rudely awakened by a freight train roaring by not 5 feet away. Turns out those tracks were still being used. Scared the crap out of us. Billy laughed like never before and I laughed with him - partly because of the absurdity of it but also because we felt like we just escaped certain death. In the morning he goes out again to pee in the daylight. He comes back after a couple minutes and says "Hey Sport...check this out". (whenever he said "sport", it meant "pay attention - about to tell you something important"). So I follow him through the brush to a rock - right on the edge of a deep ravine. Turns out he stood on the rock last night but couldn't see anything and was peeing off the ledge. A couple more steps and he'd have gone over. He looks at me and says - "I was wondering why I didn't hear any water hitting the ground last night - figured I was just tired" - and we laughed some more. Another close call. Guess laughter was how we handled tension.
We weren't exactly the same. I bought a motorcycle - Honda -he bought a motorcycle - Triumph. This was his pre-Harley period. He bought a van (Chevy) and joined a van club - I bought a van but it was a Dodge, although I did join the same club. He introduced me to my first real girlfriend - she was his girlfriend before she was mine. Yea, we shared pretty much everything :-). He was there when I met my future former wife. I was his best man at his first marriage to Bill junior's mother - Mary. Bill was best man at my wedding. We played with each other's first born - his son Bill and my daughter Ashley. I doubt Bill V remembers me because he was a baby but Ashley remembers Bill IV because they snuggled together on the couch when she was about 3. Told you he was a chick magnet :-)
So who was the Bill I knew? He was kind and funny and unafraid of anything. He would give you the shirt off his back - but don't cross him (ever shake his hand?). He was adventurous and willing to try any new experience. He had a big heart and an empathetic spirit and had a sweet soul. I called him belligerent a lot - he didn't respect authority much. He was also what my mother would call an "instigator" - he would tease and say crazy things with a deadpan face just to get a rise out of a person. There were two specific instances where he was looking at me and looking at a park ranger or security guard who was harassing us and then motioning to the pistol under his shirt or the lead pipe tucked in the cables of the MC. That's all he did - look at me..look at the guard..look at the weapon..repeat...and then smile when he saw the look on my face. He wasn't really suggesting we actually do anything. He just wanted to see my eyes get wide. He could be scary sometimes.
He was never judgmental and always fun to be around. What you'll hear a lot I think is he had a great zest for life and I got contact zest just being around him. He was the most interesting, and yes infuriating, person I ever knew and I loved him.
To Bill and Andrew - your father and I had mostly non-verbal communications. We were guys - we didn't talk about "feelings" - we didn't even talk about the ailments and pains that come with hard living and age. We were happy just hanging out doing whatever or doing nothing. Sue used to get a kick out of it because we wouldn't see each other for a year and then didn't talk to each other when we did. We were good at telling her stories from our life together and that made her laugh when we finished each other's thoughts. Otherwise, we didn't really need to talk. But the exception was our kids. That we talked about. Whether in person or when we were just talking on the phone, I could hear the pride he had for his sons. He told me more than once that he felt that you two were his greatest accomplishments. Above all he wanted you to be happy and to have, and lead, good lives - and to understand that he wasn't perfect but he did the best he could and he hoped it was enough to at least point you in the right direction. I know you will continue to make him proud.
When times like these happen, we tend to take stock in our own lives. We hug our parents and our children and our significant other. I'm here to tell you to hug your friends too - you never know what God's plan is for you or for them. And if you have, or ever find, a friend like Billy, hang on and enjoy the ride.
Billy, I am thankful for your life and honored I got to share in some of it. I miss you. Rest In Peace my brother - I will never forget you.
J
J W Breakfield Jr purchased flowers
Monday, March 13, 2017
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Kathleen Breakfield -Bleiler posted a condolence
Monday, March 13, 2017
Bill lived down the street from us growing up, and was the very close and best friend of my brother, Joe.
I remember him as a funny guy with a great zest for life, and frankly, someone who was fun to be around.
My brother and Bill were older than I, but I thought he was cute - he would laugh at that.
I looked through the pictures which my brother took when they were camping or just hanging out. Some of these pictures are posted in the tributes. I told my brother Joe that this is the way I will remember Bill. I think he would really like that too.
I wish his family peace and comfort at this time. He will be remembered.
C
Cindy Dillenbeck Breakfield Chartrand posted a condolence
Monday, March 13, 2017
Bill was best man to Joe Breakfield at our wedding in 1979. He was an integral part of our social circle, always adding that extra something to the group. He was a committed friend and never passed judgment on anyone. He will be missed.
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Mary Khalaf lit a candle
Saturday, March 11, 2017
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Bill Flather posted a condolence
Saturday, March 11, 2017
I know Bill many years ago, before he was married. He had a great zest for life and I am saddened that he is no longer with us. We are all lessened by his passing.
K
Kathy Whitmore posted a condolence
Saturday, March 11, 2017
I am so sad to think that this wonderful guy is no longer with us. He always had a smile and a hug when I saw him. Peace and strength to the family he left behind.
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William Bender uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 10, 2017
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William Bender uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 10, 2017
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William Bender uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 10, 2017
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William Bender uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 10, 2017
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William Bender uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 10, 2017
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William Bender uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 10, 2017
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William Bender uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 10, 2017
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William Bender uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 10, 2017
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William Bender uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 10, 2017
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William Bender uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 10, 2017
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William Bender uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 10, 2017
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William Bender uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 10, 2017
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William Bender uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 10, 2017
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William Bender uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 10, 2017
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William Bender uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 10, 2017
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William Bender uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 10, 2017
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William Bender uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 10, 2017
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William Bender uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 10, 2017
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William Bender uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 10, 2017
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William Bender uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 10, 2017
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William Bender uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 10, 2017
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The family of William A. Bender uploaded a photo
Friday, March 10, 2017
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Saturday
18
March
Visitation
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Shalkop Grace & Strunk Funeral Home
Bridge And Church Streets
Spring City, Pennsylvania, United States
Need Directions?
Saturday
18
March
Funeral Service
11:00 am
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Shalkop Grace & Strunk Funeral Home
Bridge And Church Streets
Spring City, Pennsylvania, United States
Need Directions?
Online Memory & Photo Sharing Event
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About this Event
In Loving Memory
William Bender
1952 - 2017
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