Born in Thorndale, Caln Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania to Naomi Mercer Speakman (daughter of Ida Jane "Jennie" Hertz Mercer and William D. Mercer) and Howard Elmer Speakman (son of Phoebe Eugenia Reynolds Speakman and Lewis E. Speakman of Coatesville, PA). He married Doris Evelyn Stern (daughter of Roy Elwell Stern and Laura P Rothhaas Stern of Downingtown, PA) in 1942. They had two children: William Arthur Speakman, Jr. b. 1943 d. 2006, and Kimberly Jean Speakman b. 1954. Bill worked in local paper and steel mills in the Thorndale and Coatsville area, and at the Swan Hotel and the bowling alley in Downingtown. He was a Sargent in the 99th Infantry Division (the "Battle Babies") of the United States Army during World War II, serving as a Medic. His unit moved through France and spent the winter months of 1944/45 along Elsenborn Ridge in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge before crossing the Bridge and Ramagen and pushing on into Germany. Although medics were non combatants, he was awarded the Purple Heart for a bullet wound to the hand. His wife Doris died in 1955. He relocated to California and married again in 1963 to Catherine E. King. Born to them was son John Speakman, and Catherine had two daughters from a previous marriage. They lived in Orange and Riverside Counties in California and Bill worked as a painter. He and Catherine also adopted and raised one of Catherine's grandchildren, Stacy, who was born with Cerebral Palsy and lived a rich and full life with them. Bill Speakman died at age 75 and was buried at Riverside National Cemetery with with full military honors in April 1994. (brief biography compiled by Kim Adams)
Born in Thorndale, Caln Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania to Naomi Mercer Speakman (daughter of Ida Jane "Jennie" Hertz Mercer and William D. Mercer) and Howard Elmer Speakman (son of Phoebe Eugenia Reynolds Speakman and Lewis E. Speakman of Coatesville, PA). He married Doris Evelyn Stern (daughter of Roy Elwell Stern and Laura P Rothhaas Stern of Downingtown, PA) in 1942. They had two children: William Arthur Speakman, Jr. b. 1943 d. 2006, and Kimberly Jean Speakman b. 1954. Bill worked in local paper and steel mills in the Thorndale and Coatsville area, and at the Swan Hotel and the bowling alley in Downingtown. He was a Sargent in the 99th Infantry Division (the "Battle Babies") of the United States Army during World War II, serving as a Medic. His unit moved through France and spent the winter months of 1944/45 along Elsenborn Ridge in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge before crossing the Bridge and Ramagen and pushing on into Germany. Although medics were non combatants, he was awarded the Purple Heart for a bullet wound to the hand. His wife Doris died in 1955. He relocated to California and married again in 1963 to Catherine E. King. Born to them was son John Speakman, and Catherine had two daughters from a previous marriage. They lived in Orange and Riverside Counties in California and Bill worked as a painter. He and Catherine also adopted and raised one of Catherine's grandchildren, Stacy, who was born with Cerebral Palsy and lived a rich and full life with them. Bill Speakman died at age 75 and was buried at Riverside National Cemetery with with full military honors in April 1994. (brief biography compiled by Kim Adams)
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