William F Crosby, III

On Angel’s Wings You Were Taken Away

But In Our Hearts, You Will Always Stay!

In Loving Memory of

William F. Crosby III

Born June 19, 1937

William F. Crosby III, of North Plainfield, passed away Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at home.  He was 86.  Born in Newark and raised in Irvington and Iselin NJ, he moved to North Plainfield 54 years ago.

Bill has been working for Somerset County for the past 29 years. He started as Director of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.  He currently was the Director of the Office of Volunteer Services, which he helped create.  Bill loved his job and all the people he worked with.

Previously he worked as a salesman for several years for Lindquist Steel (Bethlehem Steel), and Glassover Mack & Williams Surgical.  Bill then started his own company, Crosby Marketing, selling surgical stockings.  In between sales he also selected products in a Nabisco warehouse.

Bill served in the United States Army for 6 years in Southeast Asia, during the Vietnam War.  He was a member of the American Legion Post 265 and the United States Army Historical Foundation.  He was a World War II history buff and enjoyed reading history books.

A Life Well Lived!  As Bill said, “I am a lucky man, I had a really great Life!”  Bill was a family man and did so much for his family, friends and his community.  Bill was always the first to lend a helping hand.

He was a parishioner of St. Joseph’s RC Church in North Plainfield and a member of the Ancient Order of the Hibernians and Knights of Columbus. He also was President for 15 years of the Knights of Columbus Division #4 Union County.  

Bill was an Exempt Fireman for North Plainfield Fire Department and their Call Force, and a member of the Iselin Volunteer Fire Department.  He served 15 years as President and Life Member of the NJ Exempt Firemen’s Association, and a Life Member of the NJ State Firemen’s Association.

Bill served as Councilman and Council President of the North Plainfield Borough Council, for 6 years.  He was Municipal Chairman of the North Plainfield Republican Organization and was Vice Chair of the Somerset County Republican Organization.  He was an Alternate Delegate for the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia and New York.

He also was a commissioner for the Somerset County Park Commission for 18 years, a founding member of the Greenbrook Flood Control Commission and a member of the Plainfield Area Regional Sewerage Authority. 

Bill was a proud owner of a Firefighter Harley Davidson Motorcycle and was a member of the National Harley Owners Group.  “There is nothing like a beautiful ride on a summer day.”

Bill was a fan of the NY Yankees and the NY Giants.  He and his son were season ticket holders to the Giants and enjoyed going to the games together.  He also enjoyed watching and playing golf with his family and friends.

He’s predeceased by his beloved wife Kathleen (Bermingham) Crosby (d. 2009), his grandson Ryan Crosby (d. 2022), his parents William F. Jr. and Helen (Brady) Crosby, and his sisters Maureen Crosby and Joan Somers.

Surviving are his loving children, his sons and daughters-in-law Robert and Shellie Crosby of Sanford, FL; Richard and Kristine Crosby of Edison, and Michael Crosby and Eva Holmgren of Fuqua-Varina, NC; his daughter Tara Crosby of Bethlehem PA; his cherished grandchildren Brandon Crosby, Genna Boatwright (Greg), Amanda Ganci (Joe), and William and Caitlin Srager; also surviving are his great grandchildren Ariel Crosby, Grayson and Gavin Boatwright and Evander Ganci.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, December 5^th, 10:00 am, at St. Joseph RC Church, 38-48 Jackson Avenue, North Plainfield.  Entombment will be private and will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Watchung.  Friends and relatives may call on Monday, December 4^th from 4:00 – 8:00 pm at The Crabiel Home for Funerals, 170 N Main St.-at Riva Avenue, Milltown NJ 08850.  You may sign the online condolence “guestbook” at www.crabiel.com 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to either the Somerset County Handyman Program (make checks payable to Somerset County Treasurer & reference Somerset Handyman Program), POB 3000, Somerville, NJ 08876 or the North Plainfield Fireman's Exempt Association, 300 Somerset St., North Plainfield NJ 07060.

CLADDAGH POEM

“May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sunshine warm upon your face,

And rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.”