Bill was a wonderful man. He was always giving something to someone. I have so many stories to tell about Bill, but here are just a few.
Each year, the Bloomington Housing Authority puts on a street party for its residents (including Bill) called Family Night Out (FNO). Each year during FNO prizes are raffled off. Well, the 2017 event was special in its own way because Bill donated two toddler bikes to be given away. I can remember the excitement in him when he told me months in advance that he was planning to buy two bicycles for the upcoming event; one for a little girl and one for a little boy. Bill did just that, one month he bought one of the bikes and another month he bought the other. It filled him with joy to see someone else happy. Although he was on a fixed income he still took money that he didn't really have to make someone elses life better. His eyes lit up when he saw the little ones win those bicycles and told me he planned to do the same thing every year.
Another time, Bill told me about a day he was riding down the B-Line trail on his scooter and it was raining. He saw a group of kids walking on a field trip with their teacher, and a couple of the kids did not have on jackets and did not have umbrellas. He offered his umbrella to those children and said he would be fine because he had on a jacket and they didn't. The day after giving away his umbrella, he went outside to walk his dog and there laid an abandoned umbrella. It was as if God was returning the favor to him for being so kind. He said it wasn't really his color but that he was thankful to have an umbrella again.
Last, but certainly not least, Bill was always picking up toddler riding toys for my little 3 year old niece (who also lives in the neighborhood) when he would be out and about on his scooter. If he was at Goodwill or some other thrift shop and saw a riding toy, he brought it to my niece. I bet she has four or five riding toys from Mr. Butcher. Almost enough to have her own car lot. Then, just a couple weeks ago, Bill came to the office and wanted to speak to me. At that time, he showed me a brand new bicycle for my niece that he wanted to give to her for Christmas. He also had purchased a brand new outfit for one of my co-workers who has a brand new grandbaby. We don't normally accept gifts, but how could we tell him no when this is the type of stuff he lived for. I will miss everything about this man and I would do anything to have him back. I just wish more people in the world were like Bill. He was one in a million. Sorry if I rambled on too much, but it was hard to tell just one story about this kind man. My heart was broken on Monday, but he will always be in my thoughts and in my heart.
Sarah
