Obituary of William Allen Bosbyshell

The Rev. Dr. William Allen Bosbyshell died on May 10, 2019. He was born Oct. 15, 1933 in Philadelphia, PA to John H. Bosbyshell and Lilla Gibson Bosbyshell Mitterling.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Caroline Thomas Bosbyshell; by children, William Allen Bosbyshell Jr. (Maura), Charlotte, NC;  Frances Lima (Al), St. Petersburg; and Mary Helen Landmesser (Kevin), Simpsonville, SC; grandchildren,  William Allen Bosbyshell III, Katherine D. Landmesser and Sarah H. Landmesser; brother, Ronald J. Bosbyshell, Texas and nephew, Ronald J. Bosbyshell, Jr. (Yolanda),Texas.  He was predeceased by his parents and nephew, Randall S. Bosbyshell.

He graduated from Swarthmore College(‘55), The General Theological Seminary in NYC(‘58), and received his Ph.D. in Counseling from the University of Florida(‘70). Bill dedicated his life to the Episcopal Church. He was ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of Pennsylvania and moved to Florida serving as Canon Sacristan at St. Luke’s Cathedral, Orlando. He was Rector of St. John’s, Eau Gallie, FL from 1962-1966.  While at the University of Florida he served churches in Newberry and High Springs. In the Diocese of Southwest Florida he was Director of the Episcopal Counseling Center (Samaritan Center), Clearwater.  During those years he served at Good Shepherd, Dunedin; Church of the Ascension and St John’s in Clearwater. He was Canon Pastor at the Cathedral Church of St Peter from 1990 to 1999. After 41 years of ordained ministry, Bill assisted at St. Bede’s Church, St. Petersburg for 16 plus years.

He loved camping, hiking and was a lifelong sailor spending many days on the Tampa Bay waters with his friends and family sailing the Fran-Marie, the Joint Venture, and his favorite the Anima Mia, an 18 foot Victoria. He took his family and church youth groups on many camping trips to Ft Desoto. He inspired his family to go on adventurous hikes in the North Carolina Mountains. Bill carried a pocket knife since his time as a boy scout and donated his extensive knife collection to his grandson’s scout troop. He followed professional and college sports teams that he liked, particularly the Gators and the SEC. In retirement Bill enjoyed bridge and traveling.  He was a member of Clearwater Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution.

A  Eucharistic celebration of his life will be held at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, 140 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 on Sunday, May 19, 2019; at 2 p.m. Burial will be at Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, GA. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Cathedral Church of St. Peter.