William Edward Foley

William Edward Foley of Walpole and Popponesset died on August 27, 2016, after a long illness. Bill was born on September 12, 1928, in New Haven, CT and was the son of John and Edna (Burke) Foley and brother of Eileen and Jack. Bill was the devoted husband of Patricia (Coyle) for over 57 years. He was much beloved by his daughters Colleen Wheeler, Erin Foley, Kathleen Greulich, and Cristin Richard and their spouses. He was immensely proud of his grandchildren Michael, Meghan, Katie, Andrew, James, John, Timothy, and Nora. He felt blessed to have wonderful friends and extended family. A proud graduate of the University of Connecticut, Bill was a lifelong learner who was especially fond of his time spent at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and the Boston College Institute for Learning in Retirement.

Bill loved his country and served it through voluntary military service in the Korean War and a lengthy career with the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. and Boston. His commitment to his community left a legacy of service to Blessed Sacrament School and the art and music communities in Walpole.

His love of music filled their home. He enjoyed travel (especially when his dear friends the Burdetskys or his sister-in-law, Norine came along). He solved the world's problems with friends and cherished neighbors in the side yard in Popponesset.

Bill encouraged his daughters to pursue their passions and talents and his only regret at the end of his life was that he would not be able to vote for the country's first female president.

Family and Friends are invited to celebrate Bill's legacy on Friday, September 9 from 4-8 p.m. in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in Blessed Sacrament Church, 10 Diamond Street, Walpole on Saturday, September 10 at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at a later date. In his typical spirit of generosity, Bill donated his body for medical research, hoping to befuddle a whole new generation of medical professionals.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Bill's memory to the Walpole Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 58, East Walpole, MA 02032.