The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Mr. William Kempton passed away peacefully at the age of 89 on Oct. 8 at Haven Hospice, JFK Medical Center in Edison.
Bill, a native of New Brunswick, served our country faithfully in the United States Navy during World War II enlisting at the age of 17. He was a talented athlete playing football, basketball, and baseball for St. Peter’s High School.
After graduating high school, Bill answered the call to the priesthood and entered the Maryland Provence Society of Jesus (Jesuits). He completed his seminary work in India where he was ordained as a Jesuit Priest. He served there as a missionary for 15 years. Bill loved the culture, people and spoke fluent Hindi.
While home on R&R he reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Doris Frucci, and they decided to marry. The couple enjoyed a beautiful marriage of 49 years.
After 25 years, Bill retired as a supervisor for the Essex County Division of Welfare. He was a longtime parishioner of St. Matthias Church in Somerset, volunteering for Catholic Charities by running errands for the elderly.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Doris Kempton of Somerset; several nieces, Wendy Baron of Vermont, Nancy Baron of Hazlet, Lauryn Kuna of Wall, and Lisa Showler of Wenonah, and a nephew, Scott Nimmo of Pennsylvania. He will also be missed by his dear friends and neighbors, the Mgbako family. Bill was pre-deceased by his brother and two sisters.
Visiting will take place from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Gleason Funeral Home, 1360 Hamilton St. Services will begin 10 a.m. Oct. 12 at the Gleason Funeral Home, followed by a 10:30 a.m. funeral mass at St. Matthias Church in Somerset. Interment will follow at Van Liew Cemetery in New Brunswick.
