William M. Park

William Montgomery "Bill" Park, Sr, of Kingston, NH passed away June 2, 2010 at his beloved home on Kingston Lake from complications of ALS. Bill was born September 16, 1934 at the old Friend's Farm house in N. Wilmington, Massachusetts. He was the 7th child of Philip Studley Park and Dorothy May Rodden. He attended Wilmington High School through 10th grade and completed his education in Danbury, NH where he moved while still in high school to work on a dairy farm. He served in the US Army as a radar operator on a Nike Air base from 1956 to 1958 obtaining the rank of PFC. On May 24, 1969, he married Cheryl J. Silvers of Wilmington, MA, daughter of John P. Silvers and Elizabeth Kelso. They lived first in Salem, NH then moved to Kingston in 1977. In Kingston, Bill coached Little League and Pee Wee Ice Hockey and served on the Planning Board of Adjustment. He was always happy to help anyone who needed it and took the time to make sure elderly neighbors were safe and well fed. Bill was a self-made man and an accomplished craftsman. He began his career working with his father and other builders as a carpenter and electrician. He was hired as plant engineer for KeyLoc Modular Homes in the early 80's and for several years he built homes throughout New England. He went on to work for Carpenter's Union Local #33 in Boston, MA where he served as job foreman or superintendent at sites such as International Place, State Street Bank, 101 Arch Street, The Charlestown Bridge, the MWRA Deer Island Treatment Plant and coordinator for HUD on the Bishop Housing Project in Lowell, MA. He retired from heavy construction in 1997 and continued working as a self employed "handyman" until forced to retire in 2009 after being diagnosed with ALS. He enjoyed many hobbies including bird watching, mountain stream trout fishing, camping, hiking, skiing, skating, gardening, garage sales and old time country music. He renovated and enlarged his home in Kingston and was constantly seen outside working on the grounds or cutting wood for the winter. He was a "gentleman farmer" and took great pleasure in sharing the bounty his labors produced. He loved the baby farm animals. He raised sheep, milking goats, ducks, turkeys, chickens, laying hens, a rooster that crowed at 3 AM and his favorite, his prized pigs. He was once featured on the front page of the Lawrence Eagle Tribune for catching a runaway pig that had eluded everyone for three days. His idea of a vacation was two weeks at Bar Harbor, Maine Campground picking gallons and gallons of wild Maine blueberries. He spent the "off season" making his famous blueberry pies for friends, family and anyone he heard about that needed a boost. This earned him the nickname "Blueberry Bill" and his pies were known from coast to coast. He liked nothing better than family gatherings at his home and he was happiest surrounded by his children, nieces and nephews. Bill is survived by his wife of 41 years, his loving children, William M. Park Jr. (Jeanne) of York, ME and Bradly P. Park (Tomoyo) of Winter Garden, FL. He was the devoted grandfather of Nathan Diffin., son of Jeanne Park. He also leaves seven brothers: Robert A. (Louise) of Andover, MA, Philip S. , Jr. (Laurette) of Windham, NH, David C. of Boston, MA, Allen R. of Salem, NH, thomas W. of Chelmsford, MA, Kenneth D. (Nancy) of Pittsfield NH and Lloyd L. (Patricia) of Sarasota, Fl. and five sisters Marjorie L. Belloir (Shirley) of Andover, MA, Ruth P. Fuss, Evergreen Park, IL, Martha G. Rice, Derry, NH, Shirley L. Bower, Las Vegas, NV and Pauline S. Park, Phoenix, AZ. Plus many nieces and nephews. Pre-deceased by his parents, sisters Phyllis D. Morse, Beverly Ann Briggs, Priscilla J. and Nancy Elizabeth Park and brothers Richard W., Ronald E. and baby Edward Park. He also leaves his friend and companion of many years, his dog Punkin. Visitation will be at the Cremation Society of New Hampshire, 243 Hanover Street, Manchester, NH on Sunday, June 13, 2010 from 1 to 4pm. A Committal Service with Military Honors will be held on Monday, June 14, 2010 at 11:30 AM in the New Hampshire State Veteran's Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, (Rt 3), Boscawen. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the ALS Association, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Paralyzed Veterans of America or to the Manchester VA hospital.