Onesime Wilfred (Bill) Gagnon
| Onesime Wilfred (Bill) Gagnon | |
| Nationality: |  American
|
| Born: | April 8, 1917 Wallagrass, Maine |
| Died: | April 18, 1995 Long Beach, California |
| Father: | Onesime Gagnon |
| Mother: | Rosa Yvonne Michaud |
| Spouse: | Orena Adrianne Potvin Grace E Connie Lebel |
| Married: | September 28, 1946 Rochester, New Hampshire (Rena)<December 14, 1980(Grace) xx, (Connie) |
| Children: | Jeanne Gagnon Lorraine T Gagnon Richard Gagnon |
| Religion: | Roman Catholic |
| Residence: | Chisholm, Maine Keegan, Maine Chisholm, Maine Biddeford, Maine East Hartford, CT Newington, Connecticut (1948) Simi Valley, California Livermore Falls, Maine (1979) Bradenton, FL Long Beach, California |
| Profession: | Machinist, Tool and Die Maker for Teledyne Woodworker Hobbyist |
Bill's Childhood
Not surprisingly, as the oldest of Rosa and Onesime's children, Bill grew up with a lot of responsibility expected of him. He was expected to help with the chores, and with such a large family, there were plenty of them. He also experienced some traumatic events at a young age. His baby sister Jeannette died when he was only 4. His grandfather, Jimmy, died when he was only 10, the same year that his younger brother Albert got run over by a truck and was in a coma for several days.
It's well known that Rosa was a critical mother, but Bill's personality was suited to the task as he was serious and had high standards for himself. He was a good student, and applied himself.
- Click on the photos below to view a larger image:
Bill in back row, at age 10.
Bill in center (circled) at age 12.
He graduated with honors from high school in 1935.
