William Henry Beardsley Fenn
Windsor, VT – Following a gradual nine-year decline, William Henry Beardsley Fenn, known as Harry as a child and Bill as an adult, died October 19, 2025, at the Mt. Ascutney Hospital. Bill’s family is grateful for the wonderful hospice care extended to them by the hospital staff in two days prior to Bill’s death.
Born in Hartford, CT on January 23, 1941, to Francis T. Fenn Jr. and Mary Beardsley Fenn, Bill was the first of three sons. He grew up and attended grade school in West Hartford, CT. Bill went to private boarding school for high school and ultimately graduated from the Searing School in New York. In young adulthood began struggles with alcohol and cigarettes for many years, both of which he quit with the help of 12-Step programs, determination, and the grace of God. During his journey, Bill helped to introduce many to the possibility of sobriety with the help of Alcoholics Anonymous even as he struggled to maintain his own sobriety.
Bill married Marlene Headley in 1972, at his parent’s home in West Windsor (Brownsville), VT. He became Marlene’s husband and stepdad to her two young daughters, Connie and Kathie. In June 1974, Bill and Marlene welcomed their son William Talcott Fenn to their family. After their union ended, Bill came out to his family as bi-sexual and later in life identified as a gay man. He and Marlene became fast friends again before she died.
Bill worked a variety of jobs over his lifetime. He found an employment home at Ed’s Sunoco which became Randy’s Sunoco in White River Junction, VT. He retired from Randy’s as the station’s last full-service gas island attendant. During those years, Bill was a huge support to his parents and Marlene as they confronted disability, illness, and death. He also served on the New England Kurn Hattin Homes Board, a home/school for children at risk. During this period, he and his mother became members of the First Universalist Church in Hartland Four Corners. Like his mother before him, Bill remained a member of the church until his death. With rides generously provided by members of the church, Bill attended in person as long as his physical ability allowed.
Before she died in 2015, Bill’s mother convinced him to join the Historic Homes of Runnemede community in Windsor, VT. He resided in an independent living apartment and served as a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels in the West Windsor area. After a couple of health issues and losing his ability to drive, he was forced to give up this service and give up his service on the Kurn Hattin Homes Board. He moved to assisted living as his health continued to fail. In late 2024, he moved on to skilled nursing care at Cedar Hill Continuing Care Community.
Bill is survived by his son, Will Fenn, his daughters Connie Kincaid-Brown and Kathie Brown, his grandson Ian Littlefield (Adreanna Macie) and his great-granddaughter,
Lillian Littlefield, his brother Roger Fenn (Dorothy Chaisson), his sister-in-law Deborah Fenn and several nieces and nephew. He was predeceased by his parents, his former wife Marlene, his brother Peter, and his grandson Duncan Littlefield.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at 1:00 P.M at the First Universalist Church in Hartland Four Corners, Vermont. A simple reception for family and friends will follow in the church fellowship area. There will be a private burial attended by family only. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that a donation be made to; New England Kurn Hattin Homes, PO Box 127, Westminster, VT, 05158; the First Universalist Church of Hartland Four Corners, PO Box 75, Hartland Four Corners, VT 05049; Historic Homes of Runnemede, 40 Maxwell Perkins Lane, Windsor, VT 05089; or the Mt. Ascutney Hospital, 289 County Road, Windsor, VT 05089.
The Knight Funeral Home in Windsor, VT is entrusted with the arrangements and online condolences may be made at www.knightfuneralhomes.com.
Visit Legacy.com Page
