William Kennedy Morrow, Jr. - Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes & Crematory

William Kennedy Morrow, Jr.

Born July 27, 1925

William Kennedy Morrow, Jr., age 91, of Middletown, DE, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 27, 2017.

A native Delawarean, Bill was born in Delaware City on July 27, 1925 to the late Alma and William K. Morrow, Sr. He was a member of the Delaware City H.S. graduating class of 1943. After graduation, Bill played semi-pro baseball for teams in Delaware and Maryland, and for a minor league team in Pennsylvania. He was inducted into the Delaware Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.

In addition to his love of baseball, Bill also loved farming. Together with his wife, Betty, he purchased a farm near his birthplace, which they named Bilbet Farms. In 2009, Bill and Betty were honored by the New Castle County Farm Bureau when they were named Farm Family of the Year. Bill began with dairy cows and later transitioned to crops. His love for his land and awareness of conservation from his no-till practices on his farm, made him an incredibly respected agriculturalist in New Castle County for many decades.

Bill was an avid hunter and trapper for over 65 years, maintaining up to 1,000 active traps at one time. Active in his community, he was a 65 year member and Master Mason at the Jackson Lodge No. 19 A.F. & A.M. Bill devoted his life to taking care of his wife, his family, and his land. He was truly one of a kind, and if you had the pleasure of meeting him, you never forgot him. He will live in the hearts of his family and friends forever.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Betty Reynolds Morrow; sisters, Betty Ewaka and Virginia Fagan; and his nephew, Bob Fagan. He is survived by his daughter, Lois Thornton; grandson, Thomas Thornton; great grandson, Anthony Thornton; nieces, Fran Vickers, Billie Speakman, and Diane Pearson; and nephew, Shawn Fagan.

In celebration of a true gentleman, family and friends are invited to attend a visitation from 10 am until 12 Noon on Monday, June 5, 2017 at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 W. Park Place, Newark, DE, where a funeral service will begin at 12 Noon. Interment will follow in Hickory Grove Cemetery, Port Penn, DE.

In lieu of flowers and to honor Bill’s love of the outdoors and hunting, donations in his memory can be made to Appoquinimink Ducks Unlimited, c/o SR Smith, 105 S. Broad St., Middletown, DE 19709, or to Jackson Lodge No. 19, P.O. Box 57, Delaware City, DE 19706.

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7 Condolences for William Kennedy Morrow, Jr.

  • Never met a better man. I enjoyed our conversations about past and present times. I will miss Bill.

  • My family and I will forever miss Billy. Whether it was going an auction or sitting around the dinner table, conversation with Bill was always good. I’ve had many laughs thru the years with Billy everything from past memory’s he shared or the crazy things him and Chris did that week. I will forever cherish the knowledge and memories Bill shared with me. Billy is a true farming legend and will live in my heart forever!

  • I will always remember the conservation projects we worked on together. It was truely a learning experience for me. I have always said that “Bill Morrow” was the nicest guy you will ever meet.

  • During my career I have had the privilege of working with and becoming friends with many fine people and farmers. Bill Morrow is among the best. I will miss Bill. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.

  • Bill, you were the best friend Kevin and I could have ever had! You were always there for us! When we first met you, you told us you were the”Mayor of Dutch Neck Rd”! And that first year we got 72″ of snow you checked on us as well as us checking on you all the time, especially when the weather was bad. We shared deep past and present memories, dinner’s, lunches and even breakfast’s. We will never find a better person to know, you were kind, funny, and always happy! You will be dearly missed in our heart and our thoughts. Now you are with your love of your life Betty and your Father, Mother and Sister! Dear friend R.I.P.! We love and miss you very much!

  • During your life you meet many people I have to say Billy was one of the nicest people ever always a pleasure to be around we will miss him he was first class person a true gentleman

  • I became acquainted with Bill in 1986 when he began to farm my property along Dutch Neck Rd.
    My first impression when talking with him on the phone was that he was a sweet, kind, gentleman. Having met him several times in person since then, I became even more convinced that my first impression was correct. My last visit with Bill was early this spring. When I pulled up into his driveway, there he was about ready to climb on to an end loader to go check on some properties that he was going to farm. We talked for several minutes and after concluding our business I left him to his work. As I was leaving his driveway, I once again thought what a sweet man this is. This world lost a true gentleman and I will miss him but I am thankful that our paths crossed.