ALBANY – William Bales "Bill" Vincent, age 84, passed away on January 1, 2011 at Parkview Hospital in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Bill was born in October of 1926 to Harry and Dollie (Bales) Vincent in Albany, IN. His youth was spent on the farm and fishing on the banks of Halfway Creek. Upon graduating from Albany High School, he entered the Army and was on a ship bound for the Philippines when The Bomb was dropped on Japan.

With aid from the G.I. Bill for an education, he earned a Masters Degree from Indiana University and became a teacher of Business subjects in Rensselaer and New Albany. While teaching in New Albany and with the support of the Superintendent of Schools, he and a colleague traveled to Indianapolis in 1954 to the Department of Financial Institutions to obtain a charter to start a credit union for the faculty of New Albany Schools. The New Albany Schools Credit Union still exists, encompassing all of Floyd County Schools, much larger than he could have dreamed.

In 1956 his career began anew with a move to Ford Motor Company. He began at the Louisville Assembly Plant, transferred to Headquarters in Dearborn, MI, and worked in various capacities, ending on the management team at Twin Cities Assembly Plant in St. Paul, MN. Retirement meant several years in Mesa, AZ playing golf and fishing before returning to Indiana and making his home in Ft. Wayne.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Orpha (Peterson) Vincent, and their children, Vanessa, Sterling Brian, Kimberly and husband Michael Moran. His absence leaves a hole in our hearts.

A memorial service honoring Bill's life will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 16, 2011, at Meacham Funeral Service, Albany. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 12 until 2 p.m. at the funeral home. A private interment will be held at Black Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be sent to the Albany Community Library, or a charity of the donor's choice.