June is for Honoring Fathers...here in capsule form the first in the series of Rankin Fathers: William Ainsworth Rankin, Sr.

WILLIAM AINSWORTH RANKIN was born December 15, 1918 in Glenridge, New Jersey. He was the first child born to Edna Mary Urban and James McClymont Rankin. His brother James was born June 8, 1922. They also had a sister named Amy but she died as an infant.

The boys grew up in Bloomfield, New Jersey and East Orange, New Jersey. William's middle name came from his uncle who was also known as "Doc." His nickname was Billy. As a young boy Billy was very active and loved to ride his tricycle up and down the sidewalk in front of his home. Later during his school years he was very active in scouts and went on campouts with the troop or with his Dad. He often went hunting and fishing with his Dad at their summer home in Flanders, N.J.

In his youth he remained active in scouting and church activities. 
He entered the graphics arts field upon graduation, but found himself involved in the new field of automated card processing prior to 1940.

Bill had served in the National Guard from Sept 1938 to December 1939 and active service in the 2nd Calvary up to November 1945. He was a Machinist, a Buck Sergeant, a weapons expert  in automated records.

Bill Rankin saluting his uncle Doc Rankin at Camp Upton

Father, James McClymont Rankin, Uncle Doc Rankin,, Sister in Law, Shirley Grabhorn,  Bill Rankin, Pudge Rankin,
Alex Grabhorn father in law

In 1943 he married Agnes Grabhorn on September 18, 1943. After the war they moved to East Orange, New Jersey. They lived in an apartment. 


While they were there their the first child was born on January 19, 1948.  He was named after his father and was also nicknamed Billy.

After a year or two they moved a couple of blocks to a two family wood frame home on 18th Street..That neighborhood was full of children and close to the school. Patricia was born on August 5, 1952.

 About a year later, in 1953, Bill's family moved to Springfield, New Jersey. His children attended elementary through high school there.

Bill and Billin in 1956

When the war ended he landed a job with the New York Port Authority. In the winter on 1953 Bill became the manager of a new IBM equipment shop. 

The increase in income was the impetus for the move to Springfield. However, by the summer of 1953, the equipment was returned to IBM, and Bill was out of work. He found a position at IT&T in Nutley; at a much lower pay rate. Bill began a series of after work jobs, including: Compact vacuum sales; home burglar alarm systems; et cetera. When he wasn’t selling a product, he volunteered at the Springfield first aid squad. He also was active in the National Machine Accountants of America.

Bill enjoyed summer vacations. Often he would drive the family to Bailey Island, Maine. There his mother-in-law had a cottage, named The Den. While there he would spend one day with the lobstermen. The day began at 3:30 AM, and ended at 3:00 PM. At 4:00 PM he enjoyed the day’s catch with a lobster feast at The Den.

In 1967 Bill was hired by Aquire Corporation, in Puerto Rico, as the data processing manager. This suited him well. 

He and Agnes were not seeing eye to eye. In 1969 the final court hearing for a divorce was held in June. In September he was let go at Aquire. He easily found work in New York City as a contactor.
About this time he met Eleanor Martinez Johnson . . . who became his second wife on March 15, 1970. She also had been active in volunteer work as a Girl Scout Leader. She was a secretary by profession and worked at various companies doing typing and bookkeeping until her retirement. Bill and Eleanor enjoyed life; often driving up the coast to Nova Scotia, Canada. He began to enjoy volunteer work with a local CB Club in Brooklyn where they provide emergency communications and first aid for the public. However she had surgery for her legs, and never recovered. She died in November of 1981.

By this time, Bill had become a Grandpa and enjoyed it very much. His son Bill, Jr. had four daughters and his daughter Pat had one daughter. Grandpa visited them as often as he could; every other year or so. Both Pat and Bill, Jr. lived clear across the country in California.

Bill continued live on 4th Ave. in Brooklyn. He left data processing and settled into selling Electrolux vacuum cleaners. Everyone received one (or two) as a gift! (even Mrs. Rankin in Springfield.!) He also dined at the same restaurant on 4th Avenue. There he met Peg (Margaret Diegnan) who became Mrs. Rankin #3 on September 1 of 1983.

Meanwhile Mrs. Rankin #1 retired and moved to California. She was diagnosed was cancer upon arriving; and passed away in March of 1986. Two months later, a fire broke out in the apartment Bill and Peg lived in! It would take months to repair it! Peg didn’t want to move. Bill Jr. suggested the Bill and Peg take a long vacation to California . . . they lived in Bear Lake City until Bill’s death on June 30, 1993. He is buried in Riverside National Cemetery.

Bill always liked to cook, to entertain and to visit with people. He liked cars, photography and collecting hats. 

He enjoyed most card games and even played children's games with his grandchildren. They knew him as a very fun-loving Grandpa who never tired of listening to them, hugging them and talking to them. Bill often called his children and grandchildren on the phone and was always interested in their welfare. He enjoyed life and liked to see those he love happy and enjoying life too.

Bill is now grandfather to nine grandchildren:  seven girls and two boys, and 16 great grandchildren and more to come!


*********************************************************************************Looking forward to the next Blog enteries:  James McClymont Rankin, James Banks Rankin, James Rankin (Scotland) and Bill Rankin, Jr.