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Melvin E. Woodcock Jr., Office Manager
ORANGE - Melvin E. Woodcock Jr., 78, of 63 Adams St., died Tuesday, July 1, 2003 at the Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield after a seven - month battle with cancer.
Born in Orange on July 25, 1924, a son of Melvin and Margaret (Moore) Woodcock, he lived in town all of his life. A 1942 graduate of Orange High School, Woodcock joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in July 1944, and served during World War II as a B17 navigator with the 483rd Bomb Group, 817th Bomb Squadron. During the war, he flew 27 bombing missions over Germany and Italy. He was a member of the Orange American Legion Post 172 and the Orange World War II Last Man's Club, and throughout his life remained extremely proud of his military service.
Woodcock worked for the Rice Oil Co. in Greenfield for 22 years, first joining the company as office manager in 1981. Even after his retirement from full - time work in 1988, he continued to work part - time at Rice Oil, only recently giving up his job because of his illness. Previously, Woodcock worked for many years as a bookkeeper at Pioneer Petroleum Products in Gill.
He leaves his wife of 57 years, the former Nancy L. (Smith) Woodcock; four sons, David Woodcock and his wife Sammye of Belchertown, William Woodcock and his wife Carole, Keith Woodcock and his friend Karen Matthews, and Christopher Woodcock and his wife Joanne, all of Orange; a brother, Courtney Woodcock and his wife Barbara of Greenfield; six grandchildren, Jason Woodcock of Belchertown, Timothy Woodcock of Ware, Matthew Woodcock of Dracut, Megan Woodcock, Cameron Woodcock and Emma Woodcock, all of Orange; two great grandchildren, Sarah Woodcock and Jacob Woodcock of Belchertown; and several uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews.
Woodcock was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and above all, enjoyed spending time with his family. Remembered by some from his generation as a pitcher for Orange High School in the early 1940s, he enjoyed baseball, basketball, football, golf and other sports. He was fond of telling the story of being at Yankee Stadium the day Don Larsen pitched his perfect game in 1956. He was an Orange Little League coach for a number of years, and also served on the Orange Little League's board of directors. He was also a member, at one time, of the Orange American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps.
Calling hours at Witty's Funeral Home will be Wednesday, July 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. Services will be Thursday, July 3, at 11 a.m. at Witty's Funeral Home.
Private burial will be held at Jones Cemetery in Orange at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Orange Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 298, Orange, 01364 or the Orange American Legion Scholarship Fund, Whitney St., Orange.
Guest register and directions available at: www.wittyfuneralhome.com
Grace A. Conradi
ATHOL - Grace A. (Brown) Conradi, 82, formerly of 739 Daniel Shays Hwy., wife of the late Charles R. Conradi, died Saturday, June 28 in the Quabbin Valley Nursing Home in Athol after a lengthy illness.
Funeral arrangements by the J. Edward Murphy Funeral Home are incomplete at this time and will be announced later. For more information, visit www.murphysfuneralhome.com.
Irene C. Chartier
TEMPLETON - Irene C. (Fountaine) Chartier, 83, of Baldwinville, formerly of 711 Baldwinville Rd., died Tuesday, July 1, 2003 in the Heywood Hospital in Gardner.
Jean M. Dill, Starrett Retiree
PHILLIPSTON - Jean M. (Clifford) Dill, 77, of 110 Baldwinville Rd., died Tuesday, July 01, 2003 in the Heywood Hospital, Gardner.
She was born in Athol on Dec. 10, 1925 the daughter of Lawrence A. and Gladys (Daniels) Clifford. She grew up in Phillipston and was educated in Phillipston.
Mrs. Dill worked at the AT&T and Barre Woolen Mills. She went on to work at the L.S. Starrett Company for 25 years and retired in 1991.
She was a member of the L.S. Starrett Company 25 year club. She was a member of the Athol Golden Agers and enjoyed bowling and spending time with her family.
She leaves two sons, Randall C. Dill of Mary Esther, FL, Kevin W. Dill of Taylors, SC; two daughters, Pamela J. Holmlund of Edgartown, Vickie L. Prescott of Pepperell; 10 grandchildren; seven great grandchildren and several nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by her husband of 31 years, Dexter L. Dill, who died in 1972, and by two brothers, Vernon Clifford and Alfred Clifford, both of Phillipston.
A graveside service will be held Thursday, July 3 at 11 a.m. in Lower Cemetery, Phillipston.
There are no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made in her memory to the American Diabetes Association 1 Bromfield St., Suite 5, Boston, MA 02108.
Fiske Funeral Home, 1356 Main St., Athol, is directing arrangements.
Walter P. Bakula, World War II Vet
ERVING - Walter P. Bakula, 85, of 65 French King Hwy., died Monday, June 30, 2003 in the Franklin Medical Center, Greenfield.
He served in the Marine Corps in the Asiatic Pacific Theater of War during World War II. He served with the second marine division in the Island of Saipan where he was awarded the Bronze Star for heroism and the Purple Heart for wounds received in action. He attained the rank of first lieutenant.
William Gordon
TAMPA, Fla. - William Gordon, 40, of Tampa, Fla., formerly of Wilbraham, Mass., died unexepectedly June 14, 2003 while traveling in Blue Ridge, Ga.
Born in Springfield, Mass., on Feb. 28, 1963, a son of Paul and Joyce (Hume) Gordon, he lived in East Longmeadow, Hingham and Wilbraham, Mass. before moving to Tampa.
He was a graduated of Minnechaug High School, Wilbraham in 1980 and had attended Western New England College, Springfield.
A computer technician, he was employed several years at Hetburg Division of Steelcase Corp, Windsor, Conn.
He enjoyed computers, sports and music.
He leaves his father, Paul Gordon of Orange; his mother, Joyce Gordon of Rawleigh, N.C.; two brothers, Peter Gordon of Brewerton, N.H. - Arnold B. Jacobsen, 75, of White Rock Hill Rd., died Friday, June 27, 2003 in the Hospice House in Concord.
He served 20 years in the United States Navy as a sail maker.
Muriel Crosson
ATHOL - A Memorial service was held on Friday, June 27, 2003 in the Community Church of North Orange & Tully for Muriel (Hoffman) Crosson, 80, of 89 Craigin St., who died on Sunday, June 22, 2003 in Petersham at the home of her daughter, Cynthia Crosson - Harrington following an illness.
The Rev. Lois Buchiane officiated. Donald "Spin" Ainsworth was the organist. Vocalists were Chuck Berube, Jessica Berube, and Susan Tandy. Scripture Readings were offered by Kate Morin. "The Traveler" was read by Muriel's grandson, Chay Tower, and Rememberances were offered by the Rev. Gordon Tate of Petersham. A reception was held following the service in the church's Fellowship Hall, by the Dorcas Society, which Muriel had belonged to.
Witty's Funeral Home, Orange, directed the arrangements.
