William “Bill” Stephen Caswell, Sr., 84, of Austin, Kentucky, died peacefully on September 20, 2020 with his family at his side after a lengthy bout with cancer. Bill was born October 14, 1935, in South Kingstown, Rhode Island to George Clarkson Caswell and Evelyn (Ballinger) Caswell.
Bill graduated from Marple Newtown High School in Delaware County, Pennsylvania in 1955. After high school he joined the United States Coast Guard where part of his time was spent automating lighthouses in New England. After his Coast Guard service, he held a variety of jobs including working for railroads throughout the eastern part of the country. He loved to travel and photograph railroad depots, locomotives, and cabooses. As a railfan, he would often tell people how fortunate he was to get paid for enjoying his hobby. On November 29, 1967, while working for the Narragansett Pier Railroad in Rhode Island, a vehicle failed to stop at a railroad crossing striking the engine he was operating, rolling over and catching fire. He stopped the train and ran to the burning vehicle to save the pregnant mother and her four children. After the incident he was awarded a Carnegie medal for heroism.
He retired from the Florida Central Railroad in 1999 and moved to Barren County, Kentucky, where he continued to enjoy traveling until failing health slowed him down.
He is survived by his wife, Rachelle Caswell; sons, William S. Caswell, Jr. and his wife Jennifer of Hillsboro, New Hampshire; Christopher L. Maners and his wife Toni Rae of Cynthiana, Kentucky and Nicholas L. Maners and his wife Melissa of Bowling Green, Kentucky; fourteen grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his parents; his brother, George A. Caswell and a son, Brian H. Caswell.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Thursday, September 24, 2020 at Johnson Vaughn Phelps Funeral Home with burial to follow at Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. until service time at the funeral home.