William F. Walbridge (Bill), fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, entered into eternal life on March 15, 2023 at the age of 93.

He was married to his beloved wife Marianne (nee Bubash) from 1962 until her death in 2003. Bill was the father of Matt (Amy Ferch), Liz (Mike) Tabaka, Julie (Patrick) Dwyer, Tom, and John (Fernanda Morales), and grandfather to Colleen (Dan) Shaw, Keith, Bryan, and Max. Bill was preceded in death by siblings Mary Jane (Gordon) Duniven and Robert (Darline).

Born to Robert J. and Helen (nee Block) Walbridge of Walnut Park, Bill attended Nativity of Our Lord Catholic School before moving to Ferguson and attending Sts. John and James Catholic School. He graduated from McBride High School in 1948. Drafted during the Korean War from 1951-53, he trained at Camp Pendleton, then served in Korea with the 1st Marine Division, Ordinance Battalion, Ammunition Co. He finished his tour of duty as a recruit instructor with the rank of Corporal. He then attended Washington University. Bill worked for Mallinckrodt's Uranium Division in St. Louis and Weldon Springs, for Monsanto's Organic Food and Fine Grains Division at the Creve Coeur Research Ctr., and retired in 1995 after 25 years in research and development with Petrolite in Webster Groves.

In 1981, Bill was ordained a Permanent Deacon for the Archdiocese of St. Louis by Archbishop John L. May. He served in the Airport Chaplaincy, at St. Lawrence the Martyr (Bridgeton), and at Assumption (O'Fallon) until retiring in 2012. He also served as chaplain for American Legion Post No. 641. Bill enjoyed world travels and road trips, tinkering and carpentry, movies and live theater, Seinfeld, Cheers and The Office, and he loved his Waffle House and McDonald's. Intelligent, gentle, sentimental, fun-loving, and faith-filled, Bill loved sharing good times, laughs, and stories with everyone he met.

Visitation from 9:30-10:30am on Friday, March 31, 2023 at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 403 N. Main Street, O'Fallon MO 63366. Funeral Mass will immediately follow (and will be live streamed at https://assumptionbvm.org). Internment at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.