Willard L. 'Bud' Hartshorn

World Poet, Willard “Bud” Hartshorn, age 92, of Cheshire passed away on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at the West Haven VA Hospital. Bud was born September 28, 1922, in Waterbury Vermont, son of the Late Archie L. and Adeline (De Long) Hartshorn. He received his first Literary Award at age 12. He was the devoted husband of over 72 years of Mary E. “Jean” (Ruda) Hartshorn, they would have celebrated their 73rd anniversary on January 30th this year.

He served in the Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1945 as a S/Sgt, nose gunner on a B-24 Bomber, and flew 46 combat missions in the 15th Air Force from the 376th Bomb Group in Italy. He received the Unit Presidential Citation with one oak leaf cluster, the European Theater Medal with 4 battle stars, the Air Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters, the Good Conduct Medal, Gunner’s Silver Wings, the American Defense Service, Air Combat Service, Combat Crew Wings with the W.W.II Victory Ribbon, and the State of Connecticut Service Medal. At discharge he was Post Sgt/Major of Midland Army Air Base in Midland Texas.

Bud was a life member of the V.F.W. Post 10052 in Cheshire, and a member of Post 20 American Legion of Plymouth. Bud was co-founder and first president of “Fish Inc.” of Waterbury, a volunteer service organization. His service to Scouting included Scoutmaster of Troop 32 Waterbury and Troop 93 Cheshire. In 1963 under Chief Babson, he was awarded the Scouter’s Key Award for his work in the Central Committee on the Scout Master’s Training Plan and in the field implementing it, and prized that award highly. He was President of Roost Promenaders Square Dance Club and held offices in The Nutmeg Squares in Watertown, and was a member of the Artists and Writers of Connecticut, the CT Poetry Society, and the National Literary Society of America. He was a member of the Air Force Round Table of Connecticut, and became a Master Mason of Continental Lodge No. 76 in June of 1946 in Waterbury. He taught creative writing classes in Waterbury, Woodbury, and Cheshire, and was listed in “Who’s Who in Cheshire” in 1992. His 3 published works of poetry were released in 1973, 1991, and 2003. He was a volunteer with the Salvation Army’s self-contained Mobile Canteen in the Brooklyn section of Waterbury during and after the Great Flood of 1955, serving hot meals and other services to that community and First Responders in the disaster. Bud played the role of Christ in the Methodist Church Easter Pageant “The Last Supper” for two years. He served as Vice-President of the Tech System’s Employees Credit Union in Thomaston, and was a director of the Naugatuck Valley Federal Credit Union in Waterbury. He was Treasurer of Artists and Writers of CT, and negotiated the sale of property donated by the Styles family to the Town of Woodbury, thus creating “The Styles Memorial Scholarship Fund of Artists and Writers of CT”. He retired from Tech Systems in Thomaston in 1987. Stepping out of retirement, he was employed by Laidlaw Education Services from 1992 until 2005, and continued unbroken service with All-Star Transportation in Prospect retiring on November 23rd, 2010.

Willard is the beloved father of James Hartshorn of Litchfield; Bob Hart of HI; Robert Pratt of Torrington; Barbara Berdan and her husband David, Jr. of Prospect and Mary Hartshorn of Southington. He is the loving grandfather of Cybil Berdan of Terryville; David Berdan, III and his wife Jennifer of Waterbury and Tanya Berdan of Prospect. He is also survived by his cherished great grandchildren David Berdan, IV and Tristian Berdan; and his sister Roberta Biondi of Waterbury. He was predeceased by his great grandson, Anthony Negron-Berdan.

A Graveside Service will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at 9:30AM in New Pine Grove Cemetery, 850 Meriden Road, Waterbury. There are no calling hours. The Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Waterbury has been entrusted with Bud’s arrangements.