William Arthur Douglas Middleton

1902 - 1981  (79 years)

• Name	William Arthur Douglas Middleton
  Birth	8 Apr 1902	43 Victoria Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
  Gender	Male
  Death	7 Nov 1981	St. Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
  	Address preached at the funeral service of William Arthur Douglas Middleton. 17.11.81. 'Blessed are those of a gentle spirit, they shall have the earth for their possession. All of us are gathered here this morning to give thanks to God for the life of Billy Middleton, to share together our love in Christ for this man, am as fellow Christians to mark with faith and hope his passing from us into that place where he now sees the Father 'not through a glass darkly, but face to face.' And though of course today is marked with sadness on a human level, what cen one be but thankful to God for Billy's life? Thankful for over 50 years of married life to Mabel, thankful for seeing in his quiet , unobtrusive faith the fruit of the Spirit born in gentleness and love. When I spoke to someone last week who had dust heard of Billy '8 death she said 'He was such a gentleman' and doesn't that describe Billy so well.. a gentle man. , , am his gentleness being the very thing which allowed people to accept his help when they most needed it. Mabel has had numerous letters from people whom Billy helped , when they needed it, always attesting to the fact that at their greatest moment of need was there. And how many people over the years Billy must have helped, meeting their needs as a dispenserin the Chemists in which he worked ; 29 years in Commercial Rd, arn then many more in Drayton. All manner of need met with hie gentleness am care. Today we give thanks for all that. And Billy's faith was that which gave him the reason for ell this; the love of Christ in him was something simply to be shared with others. When his father died during the First World War Billy began life as an errand boy, working so that he could help hie mother, studying on his own after work so that he could learn the complicated world of dispen?ing medicines. But the thing about Billy I will always remember is that his caring for others was such a part of himself that it seemed so simple. There was never any 'fuss' about Billy's caring; it was s imply living the Christian life(in a way that few of us achieve) So today we give thanks to God for someone whose presence amongst us, and whose life lived for others, both beautified us and the world, and glorified God daily. Amen.
  Person ID	I00322	Thompson
  Last Modified	29 Jul 2018

  
  

  Father	William Owen Middleton,   b. 26 Apr 1871, 22 Commons Street, Kingston, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England d. 26 Jan 1923, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England (Age 51 years)
  Mother	Annie Jane Smith,   c. 24 Oct 1868   d. 1 Apr 1958, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England (Age ~ 89 years)
  Marriage	10 May 1890	Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
  Family ID	F0107	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Mabel Louise Kate Porter Blackman
  Family ID	F0116	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	30 Aug 2012

  
  

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