James William Billings

02/29/2004

James William Billings, 83, of 855 Middle Road died Sunday at North Adams Regional Hospital, where he was admitted earlier following a brief illness. Born in North Adams on March 21, 1920, the son of Clarence P. and Florence Woodward Billings, he was educated in schools there. A decorated Army Air Forces veteran of World War II, he enlisted on June 20, 1944, and served as an aerial gunner on B-17s and B-29s. He was assigned to the 2126th Air Base Unit as a corporal, and was honorably discharged on June 5, 1946. Mr. Billings was employed for more than 25 years in the power transformer division of GE in Pittsfield, retiring in 1982. Before the war, he was a dye machine tender at the former Strong-Hewat Woolen Mills in Clarksburg. He was a member of First Baptist Church of North Adams, the Clarksburg Seniors and the Clarksburg Council on Aging, where he served on the board. He also was a member of the GE Quarter Century and Pensioners' clubs and the Northern Berkshire Retired Men's Club, and a retired member of the Clarksburg Volunteer Fire Company. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping. He leaves and wife, the former Anna Wilbur, would have celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary May 30. They were married in First Baptist Church. Besides his wife, he leaves two daughters, Judith A. Duquette of Clarksburg, and Nancy A. Yawn of Shaftsbury, Vt., and five grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- The funeral for James W. Billings, who died Feb. 29, 2004, will be Thursday, March 4, at 11 at FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams, by the Rev. Joseph DeCosta, pastor of First Baptist Church of North Adams. Burial will follow in Southview Cemetery. Calling hours at the funeral home will be Wednesday, March 3, from 5 to 7. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested for First Baptist Church or the Clarksburg Volunteer Fire Company through the funeral home. Survivors include a son-in-law, Charles Yawn; five grandchildren, Anna Lescarbeau, Edward Duquette Jr., Jennifer Perry, Heather Bemis and Rhonda Young, 11 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. A sister, Florence Chilson, and three brothers, Clarence, Elwood and Linwood Billings, are deceased.

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