Reverend William E Beldan Jr, 77, of Shirley, formerly of Littleton, died at Apple Valley Nursing facility on Friday Oct 12. He was born in Newport, RI, on May 10, 1935 son of the late William and Elizabeth (Caswell) Beldan. He grew up in Centerville, MA where he graduated from the Barnstable School System. He graduated from University of Massachusetts with a BA in English Literature in 1956 and later from the Newton Theological School with a BD in 1960. While in Seminary he did fieldwork at Wellesley Hills Congregational Church and was ordained to the Christian Ministry in Vermont in 1960.

From 1959 to 1965 Bill served as the Pastor and Teacher of the United Federated Church of Williamstown VT, and the East Brookfield, VT Congregational Church. From 1965-1969 he was the Pastor of the First Congregational Church of Coventry. CT. He served as Associate Minister of Storrs Congregational Church, Storrs, CT from 1968 until 1978 and Pastor of the Littleton Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, and Littleton MA from 1978 until his retirement in 2000.

An active Firefighter, Bill had been a member and Volunteer Firefighter for Williamstown Fire Dept, Williamstown, VT; Life member ,Volunteer Firefighter and Chaplain of the Coventry Volunteer Fire Association, Coventry CT. He was a Life Member, Volunteer Firefighter, EMT and Chaplain of the Eagleville Fire Dept, Storrs, CT; a Call Firefighter and Chaplain of the Littleton Fire Dept, Littleton, Mass and a Member of the Massachusetts Corps of Fire Chaplains.

Bill was presently an active member of the Townsend Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Townsend, MA. He enjoyed reading particularly books on physics, religious and theological magazines. He also enjoyed gardening, landscaping, spending time at his cottage in Maine, being with his family, children and grandchildren. He also liked taking day- trips around New England.

Reverend Beldan is survived by his wife Sylvia (Brown) Beldan of Shirley, His children Kathryn and her husband Gary McCarraher of Franklin, and Kristyn and her husband Ross Azud of Clinton. and his sister Anne Mulhollem of Springfield VA.. He is also survived by 7 Grandchildren and 6 Great grandchildren 2 nieces and a nephew. Visiting Hours will be held at the Badger Funeral Home, 347 King St. Littleton on Friday October 19, 2012. From 4-7 pm. A Memorial Service will be held at The Townsend Congregational Church. 3 Brookline Street. Townsend, MA on Saturday October 20, 2012 at 1 pm. Private burial will be at the convenience of the family. Contributions may be made in his memory of Loaves and Fishes, P.O. Box 1, Ayer Mass 01432. Please see www.badgerfuneral.com