Obituary of William G Halsey

Noted NJ Architect Dies at 99 William G. Halsey, III, well-known architect from Basking Ridge, NJ, died on July 17, 2015, at home, at the age of 99, after a long and happy life. A memorial service will be held at the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church on Friday, August 14, at 3:00 PM. William was born in 1916 in South Orange, NJ. and attended Carteret Academy (Class of 1936) where he developed many lifelong friendships. He studied architecture at the University of Virginia (Class of 1940) and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He leaves behind a legacy of many hundreds of beautiful houses, churches, and other buildings, all in his distinctive style, throughout the rolling hills of northern New Jersey and well beyond. He spent the war years designing warships at Gibbs & Cox, Inc. In the 1950s he opened his own firm, William G. Halsey, Architect, which later became Halsey & Ryder Architects. He retired at age 92. He was a member of the Bernard's Township Kiwanis Club, the Bernard's Township Board of Education, the Bernard's Township Planning Board, and the Peapack & Gladstone Historic Preservation Commission. He was also a longtime member of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church. Bill was an avid golfer and a founding member of the Mendham Golf Club. He was also a skilled gardener and woodworker and enjoyed playing competitive croquet with his family. He is survived by daughters Christina Way (Robert), Ann Halsey, Jeannie Groat, and Betsy Wallace (James). He is also survived by a son, James K. Halsey (Joyce Russell), ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 73years, Christina C. Halsey, his son William G. Halsey IV, and son-in-law Stephen P. Groat. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts in honor of Bill be made to the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church, 1 E. Oak St., Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, dedicated to the care of the Historic Oak Tree. For further information please contact Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home at (908) 766-0250, or visit their website at www.gcfuneralhome.com.