William Edward Drury Sr.

William Edward Drury, Sr. - Greenville, RI

“He was what he was before his God-nothing more, nothing less.”

It is with profound sadness that we announce the August 29, 2025, passing of William “Bill” E. Drury, Sr. at his home in Greenville, RI at the age of 97.

Bill was born in Jamestown, RI on May 5, 1928, to the late Peter F. Drury and Violet Drury (Cooper) who instilled in him a deep appreciation for Christian values and a strong work ethic. He was a cherished father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, friend, and devoted husband to his late wife of 71 years, Anne Elizabeth Drury (nee O’Connor).

Bill graduated from De La Salle High School in 1945 and went on to serve in the US Navy. Following his service, he attended Rhode Island State College where he graduated in 1951 with a degree in Civil Engineering.

In January 1951, Bill married the love of his life, Anne E. O’Connor, and moved to New York to begin his professional and family life, both roles he embraced, and which came to define him.

In 1958, he moved his growing family to the Edgewood section of Cranston, RI, and began a long, rewarding career as a Civil Engineer with the C. Brito Construction Company. After retiring as Vice President in 1999, he continued as a consultant for another ten plus years. In 2017, Bill and Anne moved to The Village at Waterman Lake in Greenville, RI. 

Throughout his life, Bill was an ardent Catholic. He was a member of St. Paul Parish in Cranston for over 50 years. For many years, he served, along with his wife, as a marriage mentor with the Christian Family Movement and as a Rector for the Diocesan Cursillo Movement. He faithfully attended Mass every Sunday throughout his life.

A big fan of the Red Sox, Celtics, New England Patriots and the WNBA, Bill seldom missed their games on TV. Always the competitor, “Bocce Bill” loved games, playing shuffleboard, whiffleball, and bocce in his younger years with his children, grandchildren, and sons-in law. He played contract Bridge into his golden years, then later Rumikub which he played weekly with his family. He was often distracted from his daily “to-do list” because he couldn’t resist a Sudoku challenge or two.

Left to treasure his memory are his and Anne’s “Greatest Investment” their nine children:

Anne Marguerite “Marga” Fox, Mary Osborne (Clay), Michele Drury, William E Drury, Jr. (Donna), John Drury, Hope Zito (Tom), Nadine Boland (Ken), Elizabeth Rouhselang (Jay), Violet “Kim” Drury-Silva (Paul), sixteen grandchildren, and twenty-six Great grandchildren, brother Peter, and a host of other relatives. He was predeceased by his wife Anne in 2022 and his sister Violet, in 2008. He will be missed by everyone who met him because he was awesome!

As a dedicated advocate of higher learning, as was his beloved wife, Bill donated his body to the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his celebration of life at the Jones-Walton-Sheridan Funeral Home 1895 Broad St. Cranston, RI on Saturday, September 20, 2025. Visitation hours are 9 am – 11am immediately followed by a Memorial Service. A Mass of Christian Burial and interment in St. Mark Cemetery will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association.

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