The Villages, FL – Bill Sroufe,90, died peacefully May 21, 2021, at his home in The Villages, FL with his son and daughter by his side. Bill was born November 16, 1930, in Grove, Oklahoma to Vernon and Lorene Foley Sroufe.
Bill was raised in Bartlesville, OK and graduated from Bartlesville High School in 1948. After graduation he joined the Army during the Korean War. He served in Japan, where he worked in Army Intelligence. He attended Oklahoma University on the G.I. Bill graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering. While in college, Bill attended a YMCA Dance where he met Rella Mae Killingsworth and they were married on November 20,1954. Upon graduation in 1956, he joined General Electric where he remained his entire career; working in Texas, Illinois, Massachusetts, and California before settling in Zanesville, Ohio. After retirement, he and Rella enjoyed an active life in The Villages, FL for twenty years.
Bill’s lifelong love of music began in Oklahoma as a child singing in church, at local performances and on the radio. He remained an ardent singer for the rest of his life, singing in Barbershop Quartets, karaoke venues and to all family & friends who would listen! He played the harmonica, the ukulele and took banjo lessons with his son; but his favorite instrument was the organ. He started lessons in the 1970s and as he got better, the organs got bigger!
Bill was an avid golfer beginning in his Army days and continuing until the end of his life He was a member of the Zanesville Country Club, and played several times a week when he and his wife moved to The Villages. He had an impressive collection of over 200 scorecards from courses he had played. He was quietly proud of his 8 (forgive us if we are missing any Dad) holes-in-one.
Those who knew Bill loved him for his humor, his positive attitude and his loving nature. He always had a smile and kind word for everyone he met.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Rella (Killingsworth) Sroufe and siblings Gene Sroufe, Bob Sroufe and Connie Jo Marshall. He is survived by his son Mark V. Sroufe of Columbus, Ohio, his daughter Kelly Smythe and son-in-law Bruce Smythe of Sutton Massachusetts, granddaughters Quintessa Smythe and Kathryn Smythe and grandson Gordon Smythe. He is also survived by his dear companion of three years, Roberta Rudolph.