Obituary of William Joseph Lobdell

William Joseph Lobdell died Thursday, October 27 at his home in Hopatcong, N.J. He was 75.

Bill, as he was known to family and friends, was a devoted father, husband, and lifelong Yankees fan. He loved coffee and apple pie, old Westerns, and dad jokes. When restaurant hostesses would ask him if he had reservations, Bill would say “Yes, but I’ll eat here anyway.”

Born on August 3, 1947, in Jamaica Queens, New York, Bill overcame a traumatic brain injury as a child to become the first person in the world with an expandable stainless-steel plate in his skull. It was one thing he did not joke about. Bill grew up in Massapequa, N.Y., and graduated from Cranford High School in New Jersey. He spent most of his career working as a night supervisor in a textile printing plant where his impeccable eye for detail ensured the closest possible color match in every dye lot. Trick-or-treaters owe him a debt of gratitude for their well-printed costumes.

Bill married Harriet Lobdell (nee DeMasters) in a blizzard in January 1978. They met on a blind date. Together they raised three children, Kelly, Kristen, and Jason. Bill’s greatest joy was his family. When his children were young, he loved packing up the family truckster with the precision of a NASA engineer and driving to Virginia Beach for vacation. He always made good time.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents Raymond and Eileen Lobdell and his brother, Raymond. He is survived by his wife, Harriet; daughters Kelly Pike and husband Dave Pike; Kristen O’Connell and husband Rich; son Jason Lobdell and wife Jess; brother Jonathan Lobdell and wife Dawn; beloved grandchildren Emmy, Maddie, Richie and Shepie; and nephews Dylan, Tyler, and Eric and niece Kim.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Bill's Life Celebration on Wednesday November 2 from 9:00AM to 11:00AM in the funeral home.

A Funeral Mass will be offered on 11:30AM at St. Jude RC Church, Hopatcong.

Bill will be laid to rest following the mass in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Chester.

Memorial donations may be made to a charity of a person's choice.