Honoring Bill's Legacy: Aid His Family

In Loving Memory of Bill Hargadon

“Always trust in the Higher Power.”

Bill Hargadon has left this world and journeyed on to an eternal place of peace.

Born in New York, Bill faced unimaginable hardship early in life, becoming an orphan at a young age and growing up in a deeply troubled home under the care of his aunt. At just 18, he left to serve our country honorably in the United States Air Force. From those early years of pain and absence, Bill made himself a promise: if he ever had children, he would be the father he never had.

Life tested Bill. He battled addiction, but he refused to let it define him. With courage and faith, he sought recovery—and not only changed his own life, but made it his mission to help others do the same. He became a drug and alcohol counselor, touching the lives of thousands on their path to healing.

One day, while walking through a grocery store parking lot, I witnessed the deep impact Bill had. A well-dressed man, likely in his 40s, stepped out of a luxury car and, upon seeing Bill, ran over and fell to his knees in tears. “Because of you,” the man sobbed, “I have all of this. You gave me a chance to live.” Bill gently lifted him up and said, “It was never me—it was the strength your Higher Power gave you. You did the work. You made the change.”

Bill’s humility was unwavering.

He eventually married and had four children, one of whom has special needs. While he protected all of his children fiercely, that child held a particular place in his heart. I remember the day Bill got a call from his wife—his son hadn’t made it home from school. Without hesitation, Bill jumped in his car and drove for hours tracing every possible bus route. At 9 p.m., he found his son—safe but lost, tired, hungry, and dehydrated, mistakenly dropped in the wrong neighborhood. Bill never gave up until he brought his boy home.

Though Bill never had material wealth, he was rich in empathy. He worked in mental health for many years, always showing dignity and kindness to those society often overlooked. One day, a homeless patient arrived at the clinic—disheveled, shoeless, and worn down. Someone joked that the man looked like Bill’s older twin because of their striking blue eyes. Bill smiled and said, “You’re like my older twin—but I’m going to make sure you look better than me today.” Within two hours, Bill had found a barber, clean clothes, new shoes, and made sure the man had a shower. When it was all done, the man’s eyes filled with tears. “People usually turn away from me,” he said. “But today, you gave me dignity. I feel like I can try again. I feel like I matter.”

Bill understood that it’s when people are at their lowest that they most need someone to believe in them.

There are countless stories like this—quiet acts of love and grace that Bill never sought credit for. He wasn’t famous, but he was unforgettable to those whose lives he touched. He was in the hearts of everyone he helped, worked with, and most of all, in the hearts of his family, to whom he gave everything.

Now, we ask that you find it in your heart to help his family as they navigate this difficult time. Bill always said, “Trust in the Higher Power.” Let’s honor him by living those words—and helping his legacy live on.

With gratitude,

Someone who wasn’t blood, but became his family