William Ernest "Bill" Hague

William “Bill” Ernest Hague, 93, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away on September 23, 2020 at the Beacon in Gulf Breeze, FL. Bill was born on July 23, 1927, in Stratford, CT, to Helen Jones and William Joseph Hague, who predeceased him. Bill grew up in there and joined the US Navy in April 1945.

While on leave in Pleasure Beach, CT, Bill met the love of his life: Dorothy Arline Flanagan, and they married in July 1946. Bill served his country with pride during World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, and Vietnam War, as a submariner and a yeoman. Master Chief Hague was a plank holder on the USS Ethan Allen SSN 608, a nuclear submarine active during the Cold War. During his USN career, Bill was stationed in Chicago, Il; San Diego, CA;, Boston, MA; Norfolk, VA; The Hague, Netherlands; Idaho Falls, ID; Paris, France; Stuttgart, Germany; New London, CT; Brooklyn, NY; and Pensacola, FL. Bill retired in August 1975, finally putting down roots in Gulf Breeze, FL.

With the support and determination of his wife, Bill set a high educational bar for his children and grandchildren. Returning to college upon his retirement, Bill earned a bachelor's degree from the University of West Florida, and a master's degree from Troy Stale University. During his second career with US Civil Service in Pensacola, he wrote training manuals which readied naval shipping for Desert Storm. Bill was recognized for his outstanding service to the United States of America in 1988 by the US Secretary of the Navy, just one of his many awards and recognitions. However, if you were to ask Bill, he would tell you that volunteering at Gulf Breeze Elementary School (GBE), helping daughter, Lynndale, prepare for her art classes, was the time of his life. Not only did he treasure being a grandfather to his own grandchildren, he also became the Art Grandfather for GBE students. For his efforts at GBE, he was named "1993 Outstanding Senior Citizen Volunteer". Perhaps his most favorite art activity was making gingerbread houses with the kindergarteners-who called him Grandpa.

Bill and Dot built their dream home in Gulf Breeze, FL, which was the hub for years of family gatherings. Bill enjoyed dancing, swimming, fishing, grilling, playing cards and watching football. Bill was an avid Seminoles fan, while Dot cheered for the Gators. He never missed a morning walk with his beloved dogs and generally had a cat in his lap at night. In his retirement years, Bill enjoyed a different kind of cruising than he did while serving in the USN and traveled even more with Dot. On their 60th anniversary, Bill and Dot treated their children and grandchildren to a memorable Caribbean cruise. When his beloved Dot died in 2012, Bill was never quite the same.

Bill is survived by his three children: Dr. Kathleen Armstrong and husband, Richard Downs; Lynndale Cacace and husband, Richard Cacace; Terry Hague; grandchildren: Dr. Michael Armstrong and wife, Erin; Daniel Armstrong and wife, Melissa; Richard W. Downs; Dr. David Cacace, and wife, Tanya; Colleen Cacace, and husband, Jose Valdes-Bartroli; and, Eric Hague; great-granddaughters: Juniper Armstrong and Riley Armstrong; niece: Robin Frankowski, and nephew: Raymond Frankowski Jr., plus great nieces Amber Frankowski, Coral Frankowski, and Sydney Predmore. Bill will always be remembered for his enthusiasm and beautiful smile.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Vitas Healthcare.

WATERS & HIBBERT FUNERAL HOME is in charge of arrangements.