Obituary of Willard F Bodine

Willard Frederick Bodine, known as Bill, departed this life of June 30, 2021 at 86 years old. A true son of Washington, NJ, he was born to the late John and Edith (Yawger) Bodine on June 21, 1935 and remained an active member of his community throughout his life. Bill graduated from Washington High School in 1953 and married his high school sweetheart, Susan, in 1955. He graduated Muhlenberg College in 1958 before embarking on a lifelong career as an educator and a coach. For over 30 years, Bill taught seventh- and eighth-grade social studies at Harmony Township Elementary School in Phillipsburg, N.J. and started the school's athletic program. He also coached sports at Belvidere High School where he served as the women's softball coach and the coach of the men's and women's basketball teams. He started the Washington Township Youth Association basketball program and officiated Delaware River Conference Soccer. Along the way, Bill performed home visits in the earliest days of the Head Start program and worked as a ranger at Worthington State Forest, two experiences that he looked back on with great pride and fondness. Bill is survived by a daughter, Beth Ann Stauffer and her husband Douglas; a son, Brian Bodine and his wife Jennifer Carmona; grandchildren, Scott D. Stauffer and his wife Lauren and Caitlyn Stauffer-Meixsell and her husband Justin. In addition to his parents Willard was preceded in death by beloved wife of 62 years Susan (Davis) Bodine and a sister Joyce Bodine. Family and friends may pay their respects on Wednesday July 7, 2021 from 1-3 PM and 5-6:30 PM at the Warren Hills Memorial Home. 234 W. Washington Ave. Washington, NJ 07882. Funeral services celebrating Willard's life will begin at 6:30 PM on Wednesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Willard's name to the New Jersey Audubon, 9 Hardscrabble Road, Bernardsville, NJ 07924, https://njaudubon.org/ Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Warren Hills Memorial Home. To send an on-line condolence please visit www.warrenhillsmemorialhome.com