Lt.
Lt. Commander William Eden Waldin II
d. August 18, 2022
William Eden Waldin II, 66, the husband of Valerie Lang Waldin of Glass Lake, entered eternal life on August 18, 2022, following a mighty and heroic battle with lung cancer. When diagnosed, William had been expected to survive six to 12 months at best; yet he continued to defy the odds and lived for over five years with the disease.
"Billy" was born to the late William Eden Waldin I and Susan Jane (Hanchett) Waldin at Samaritan Hospital in Troy and spent his boyhood years in Averill Park. Billy attended Waterford High School and held down a night shift at Ford Motor Plant, while attending high school full-time by day. He enlisted in the United States Navy on October 3, 1977, and reported to Carrier Air Group Eight as an airman recruit, assigned to VF-41 at Naval Air Station in Oceana, Va. Subsequent training led to his designation as an aviation electronics technician and further assignment to VF-32, also stationed at Oceana. After achieving the rank of petty officer second class, he was selected for recruiting duty and assigned to Navy Recruiting District Albany, where he achieved designation as recruiter in charge at the Navy Recruiting Station in Schenectady. Upon completing a very successful tour, he was re-assigned to the fleet with his third F-14 squadron, VF-33, again at Naval Air Station Oceana. Achieving the rank of chief petty officer within nine years, and designated for promotion to senior chief, he was selected for a direct commission to the officers' ranks under the provisions of the Limited Duty Officer program, receiving his congressional appointment to ensign in July of 1989. Further tours included USS Theodore Roosevelt, VF-101, VF-103, and director of the Fighter Wing US Atlantic Fleet and Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department in Oceana, Va. His exceptional skills and work ethic earned him five Navy Commendation Medals, two Navy Achievement Medals, a Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Unit Commendation, two Meritorious Unit Commendations, two Battle Efficiency Ribbons, four Navy Good Conduct Medals, a Navy Expeditionary Medal, two National Defense Service Medals, a Joint Forces Expeditionary Medal, three Southwest Asian Campaign Medals, an Armed Forces Services Medal, five Sea Services Deployment Ribbons, a Navy Recruiting Service Ribbon, a NATO Medal, a Kuwait Liberation Medal, an Expert Rifle Marksman Medal and an Expert Pistol Marksman Medal. Having achieved the rank of lieutenant commander in the United States Navy in 1999, he completed his active-duty tours. Upon retirement from active duty, he worked for another ten years as a defense contractor with DynCorp International, directing pre-flight maintenance on E2-C Hawkeye aircraft and MH-60S helicopters. His many passions included the sandy beach in Dam Neck, Virginia Beach, his meticulous lawn in Virginia Beach, antique clocks, beautifying his nearly 200-year-old farm house on Glass Lake, his pristine '83 Cadillac aka Cadzila, his '62 Lyman, and his friends and family. He was easily the center of attention wherever he went and was a quick-witted conversationalist few could keep up with. He effortlessly lit up any room, no matter now dark. Mostly, Billy was happy with simple things. He loved staying home on a summer's evening overlooking the lake from a mystical view, putting logs on the fire in the winter and lighting lanterns in the house to create a warm and peaceful ambience, or just petting and talking to his beloved cats. Lt. Cmdr. Waldin was a true patriot to the end. His favorite quote reads as follows: "I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy'" - John F. Kennedy Lt. Cmdr. Waldin is survived by his wife, Valerie Lang Waldin; children, Ashley Elizabeth Waldin, and Matthew Eden Waldin; and Murphy Jean, his beloved granddaughter of his previous spouse, Pamela. In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by his sisters, Tracy Alison Shoemaker (Tod), Teryll Ann Waldin, and Tamara Aline Waldin. Billy is also survived by maternal and paternal extended family, including half-siblings, nieces, nephews and many dear lifelong friends. Relatives and friends are invited and may call from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 31, at the Perry-Komdat Funeral Chapel, 2691 NY 43, Averill Park. At 6:30 p.m. a eulogy will be delivered by his wife, followed by a prayer with Father Tom Holmes, then personal remarks from close friends. The family requests donations in memory of William E. Waldin II be made to Community Hospice Foundation (Gift Processing), 310 S. Manning Blvd., Albany, NY, 12208, or the animal protection charity of one's choice. Visit perrykomdat.com for directions and a private guestbook.
Service Information:
Visitation
Wednesday
August 31, 2022
4:00PM-7:00PM
Euology & Prayer at 6:30PM
Perry-Komdat Funeral Chapel
Averill Park, NY
"Billy" was born to the late William Eden Waldin I and Susan Jane (Hanchett) Waldin at Samaritan Hospital in Troy and spent his boyhood years in Averill Park. Billy attended Waterford High School and held down a night shift at Ford Motor Plant, while attending high school full-time by day. He enlisted in the United States Navy on October 3, 1977, and reported to Carrier Air Group Eight as an airman recruit, assigned to VF-41 at Naval Air Station in Oceana, Va. Subsequent training led to his designation as an aviation electronics technician and further assignment to VF-32, also stationed at Oceana. After achieving the rank of petty officer second class, he was selected for recruiting duty and assigned to Navy Recruiting District Albany, where he achieved designation as recruiter in charge at the Navy Recruiting Station in Schenectady. Upon completing a very successful tour, he was re-assigned to the fleet with his third F-14 squadron, VF-33, again at Naval Air Station Oceana. Achieving the rank of chief petty officer within nine years, and designated for promotion to senior chief, he was selected for a direct commission to the officers' ranks under the provisions of the Limited Duty Officer program, receiving his congressional appointment to ensign in July of 1989. Further tours included USS Theodore Roosevelt, VF-101, VF-103, and director of the Fighter Wing US Atlantic Fleet and Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department in Oceana, Va. His exceptional skills and work ethic earned him five Navy Commendation Medals, two Navy Achievement Medals, a Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Unit Commendation, two Meritorious Unit Commendations, two Battle Efficiency Ribbons, four Navy Good Conduct Medals, a Navy Expeditionary Medal, two National Defense Service Medals, a Joint Forces Expeditionary Medal, three Southwest Asian Campaign Medals, an Armed Forces Services Medal, five Sea Services Deployment Ribbons, a Navy Recruiting Service Ribbon, a NATO Medal, a Kuwait Liberation Medal, an Expert Rifle Marksman Medal and an Expert Pistol Marksman Medal. Having achieved the rank of lieutenant commander in the United States Navy in 1999, he completed his active-duty tours. Upon retirement from active duty, he worked for another ten years as a defense contractor with DynCorp International, directing pre-flight maintenance on E2-C Hawkeye aircraft and MH-60S helicopters. His many passions included the sandy beach in Dam Neck, Virginia Beach, his meticulous lawn in Virginia Beach, antique clocks, beautifying his nearly 200-year-old farm house on Glass Lake, his pristine '83 Cadillac aka Cadzila, his '62 Lyman, and his friends and family. He was easily the center of attention wherever he went and was a quick-witted conversationalist few could keep up with. He effortlessly lit up any room, no matter now dark. Mostly, Billy was happy with simple things. He loved staying home on a summer's evening overlooking the lake from a mystical view, putting logs on the fire in the winter and lighting lanterns in the house to create a warm and peaceful ambience, or just petting and talking to his beloved cats. Lt. Cmdr. Waldin was a true patriot to the end. His favorite quote reads as follows: "I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy'" - John F. Kennedy Lt. Cmdr. Waldin is survived by his wife, Valerie Lang Waldin; children, Ashley Elizabeth Waldin, and Matthew Eden Waldin; and Murphy Jean, his beloved granddaughter of his previous spouse, Pamela. In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by his sisters, Tracy Alison Shoemaker (Tod), Teryll Ann Waldin, and Tamara Aline Waldin. Billy is also survived by maternal and paternal extended family, including half-siblings, nieces, nephews and many dear lifelong friends. Relatives and friends are invited and may call from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 31, at the Perry-Komdat Funeral Chapel, 2691 NY 43, Averill Park. At 6:30 p.m. a eulogy will be delivered by his wife, followed by a prayer with Father Tom Holmes, then personal remarks from close friends. The family requests donations in memory of William E. Waldin II be made to Community Hospice Foundation (Gift Processing), 310 S. Manning Blvd., Albany, NY, 12208, or the animal protection charity of one's choice. Visit perrykomdat.com for directions and a private guestbook.
Service Information:
Visitation
Wednesday
August 31, 2022
4:00PM-7:00PM
Euology & Prayer at 6:30PM
Perry-Komdat Funeral Chapel
Averill Park, NY
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