ALFORD, Mass. — William F. Milligan, 86, of Alford, Massachusetts, died Oct. 28, 2020, while under hospice care in his home in Alford following a brief illness. 

Born on March 5, 1934, in Great Barrington, he was the son of the late Paul and Alice (Vabor) Milligan; he was a lifetime resident of Alford.

After graduating from Williams High School, he worked as a farmhand at Green Meads Farm (Richmond) and the Wilcox Farm (Alford), as a meat cutter at Fallon's Market (West Stockbridge) and Morandi Packing Plant (Hillsdale NY), before he became self-employed in 1976 as a meat cutter, plowing snow, mowing fields, and providing surveillance services for owners of local houses.

Bill was a congregant of the West Stockbridge Congregational Church. Formerly, he served the community of Alford as a selectman, as a member of the Alford Volunteer Fire Department, and on the town police force. In the 1960s, Bill's leadership was instrumental in preparing the specifications for a new fire truck and in training the volunteers. In his younger days, he enjoyed
fishing in the Alford Brook, ballroom dancing, and playing cards at the town hall. 

Bill is survived by his wife of 67 years Lois (Fadding) and three children, Paul Milligan and his wife Marcie of Neola, Penn.; Deborah Gold and her husband David of Metuchen N.J.; and William T. Milligan of Lititz, Penn.; seven grandchildren: Samuel Milligan and his wife Alexandria, Robert
Milligan and his wife Jennifer, Michelle Murphy, Michael Gold and his wife Emily, Eric Gold, Rachael Gold, and Andrew Milligan, and six great-grandchildren. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by six siblings, Harriet Milligan, Pauline Wilcox, Mary Blackwell, and Alice Louise, Thomas L. Milligan, and Kathryn Milligan.

Funeral Notice: Services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington with Rev. Paul Milligan and Rev. Patty Fox officiating. Due to current COVID health restrictions, the funeral capacity is limited to 25 people; friends and family unable to attend may access the service via ZOOM (Meeting ID: 875 6946 0300 Passcode: 518954). A private burial will take place at the convenience of the family at the West Center Cemetery.

Also due to current COVID health restrictions, the funeral home requests friends and family attending services to follow CDC guidelines by wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial remembrances be made to the Alford Volunteer Fire Department or HospiceCare in the Berkshires via Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230. To send remembrances to his family go to www.finnertyandstevens.com