Obituary of William F. Elliott

            William Frank Elliott, AKA; Willy, Bill, Bub, and Bubbie, was born in the Foster Fields section of Denville to Sarah Jane Somers of Denville, and James Peter Elliott of Philmont, New York (who was a Marine officer posted at Picatinny Arsenal). Bubbie had four brothers – James, Jr., George (Tommy), Charles, and Henry; and a sister, Charlotte: all of whom have predeceased Bubbie.

 

            In the days of his youth, Bubbie, along with his brothers, cousins, and all-of-the-rest of the little-rascals roamed the fruited plains in a never-ending quest for fun and adventure.

 

            In his adolescence, Bubbie joined the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC), Construction Division as an Enrollee, and became a Bull Dozer Operator. Bubbie was posted in the state of Utah, where he and his unit worked on the Route 66 Highway construction project until the Second World War started, and the Civilian Conservation Corp was disbanded.

 

            Next, Bubbe joined the U.S. Navy Reserve, and after his unit completed Basic Training, it was activated, and assigned to perform guard duty. Bubbie was eventually posted to sea duty on board the U.S.S. Saratoga (CV-3) which was a Lexington-class aircraft carrier that served in the Pacific Theater of operations.

 

            After V-J Day, Bubbie participated in the Operations Cross Road nuclear weapons (Fat Boy Bomb) test at the Bikini Atoll where he and the rest of the crew were transferred to another ship, and the Saratoga was used as a target ship (and sunk): Bubbie never liked fireworks after that!

 

            After the Navy, Bubbie returned to Denville and resumed his family life, and once more roamed the fruited plains in search of fun, and adventure; He raced cars and motorcycles, secured a job as a Bull Dozer Operator with Foster Construction Corp (Relatives), and pursued his musical career as a mummer as a founding member of the Denville String Band, which went on tour.

 

            At that point in time, the streets of Denville were mostly dirt and needed to be graded regularly; and Denville’s residential community was growing, and new roads needed to be built. The Town’s Road Department desperately needed an operating engineer who could operate it’s brand-new Road Grader, and other heavy equipment as well.

 

            Mayor Hogan was desperate to find someone who could operate the Road Grader and sought-out Bubbie. The Mayor cornered Bubbie at the Denville Post Office, and talked him into working for the Denville Road Department. Bubbie took the job and put in forty-one (41) years on the Road Department starting as an equipment operator, and retiring as the Foreman.

 

            Along the way, Bubbue married Wilma Lynn Huffman, and had three sons, Karl, William, and Jeffery. Wilma, Karl, and Jeffery have all predeceased Bubbie; but his son William lives on.

            In addition to his son William, Bubbie is survived by his Granddaughter, Great Granddaughters and Grandson; and his Great-Great Granddaughters and Grandsons, as well as his loving Nieces and Nephews – so on and so forth…