William “Chris” Padden, 58, of Delray Beach, Florida, passed away at home after a hard-fought battle with cancer.

He is survived by his sister, Jennifer Fairlie; his niece and nephew, Alina and Aidan; and his brother-in-law, Alexis—all of Holyoke, Massachusetts. He also leaves behind his partner of six years, Melissa Pelletier, who stood by him throughout his illness.

Chris proudly served six years of active duty in the United States Air Force, with assignments in Germany, Alaska, and South Korea. In 2001, while working as an aircraft mechanic at Westover Air Reserve Base, he was recalled to active duty during Operation Desert Storm with the 439th Airlift Wing. His service earned him several commendations, including the Air Force Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Air Force Longevity Service Award.

After his time in the Air Force, Chris worked for 17 years as a track worker with CSX Railroad until his illness forced him to stop.

Chris was known for his sense of humor, love of a good story, and the kind of energy that drew people in. Everyone who knew him has at least one great memory—usually something funny or a little wild—that he played a part in. He was also passionate about cars, proudly showing his vehicles at car shows and taking home his fair share of trophies.

Though he moved to Delray Beach, Florida, Holyoke always felt like home. He visited often and made a point to stay in touch with the people who mattered to him.

Chris will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him.

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