Obituary for William Robert Whitney
Hudson – William “Bill” Robert Whitney, 83, passed from this world on Wednesday, August 28, 2019 following a lengthy battle with Lewy Body Dementia.
Born in Dorchester, MA on June 28, 1936, he was the youngest son of Arthur Leslie and Fannie Barnes Whitney. Growing up, his family lived throughout the greater Boston area. As a young child, he would often show his impish side, hopping a ride on the back of the trolley to Revere Beach; making his way to the top of the Bunker Hill monument to tell tourists about the area and collect tips from them before the tour guides could; or chasing his dog “Mister” through Boston Common while calling for him “Hey Mister”.
He served his country proudly, joining the Army National Guard in 1954. He began his Active Duty service in 1955, serving in many locations including Korea and Germany. His service continued through the Army Reserves until his retirement in 1996.
Fraternally, Bill was raised as a Master Mason in Fidelity Lodge, Melrose, MA. He joined York Rite in Massachusetts. In 1973 he met his wife Susan at her installation as Worthy Matron of Pilgrim Chapter #55, Order of the Eastern Star in Nashua, NH, but he didn’t join until 2005. He affiliated with Rising Sun Lodge in Nashua, and was very proud of receiving his 50-year Masonic membership award in 2014. Bill joined Scottish Rite in the Valley of Nashua in 2007. He enjoyed traveling to many Masonic and Eastern Star functions with his son-in-law Jeff.
Professionally, he worked in food service at Harvard University and other Boston area universities before moving to New Hampshire. After moving, he worked at the US Post Office in Nashua where he sorted mail for many years, memorizing the location of every street in the city. During his postal career he worked repairing machinery, managing the Nashua South Station branch, and maintaining stamp machines in the area. Bill took a course in breeding Beefalo and started Whitney Beefalo Farm. Later he had a small handy man business for a bit.
Bill was an avid reader. He enjoyed painting, classic movies, music and musicals, loved puzzles of all sorts, and always did the crosswords in pen. He was proud of his Scottish heritage, his family, and adored his grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his brother Arthur Whitney, his sister Dorothy Swain, and his foster brother William Stevenson. He leaves behind his wife of 45 years, Susan; his daughter Gail Brown, her husband Jeffrey, and their daughters Jeannette, Abigail, Caroline and Susannah; his son Charles Whitney, his girlfriend Lori Flynn MacDonald, and his sons Aidan and Logan; and his son Shaun Whitney, and his wife Meaghan; his sisters Virginia Phillips, Mary Braman, and Genevieve Touchton; and many extended family members.
SERVICES: All are welcome to attend a celebration of life on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at 2pm, with a Masonic Service at 2:30pm, at the Nashua Masonic Temple, 200 Main St., Nashua, NH. Interment will be at the NH State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (lbda.org) or the Nashua Children’s Dyslexia Center (200 Main St., Nashua, NH 03060). The DAVIS FUNERAL HOME, One Lock St., Nashua is assisting the family with arrangements.
Born in Dorchester, MA on June 28, 1936, he was the youngest son of Arthur Leslie and Fannie Barnes Whitney. Growing up, his family lived throughout the greater Boston area. As a young child, he would often show his impish side, hopping a ride on the back of the trolley to Revere Beach; making his way to the top of the Bunker Hill monument to tell tourists about the area and collect tips from them before the tour guides could; or chasing his dog “Mister” through Boston Common while calling for him “Hey Mister”.
He served his country proudly, joining the Army National Guard in 1954. He began his Active Duty service in 1955, serving in many locations including Korea and Germany. His service continued through the Army Reserves until his retirement in 1996.
Fraternally, Bill was raised as a Master Mason in Fidelity Lodge, Melrose, MA. He joined York Rite in Massachusetts. In 1973 he met his wife Susan at her installation as Worthy Matron of Pilgrim Chapter #55, Order of the Eastern Star in Nashua, NH, but he didn’t join until 2005. He affiliated with Rising Sun Lodge in Nashua, and was very proud of receiving his 50-year Masonic membership award in 2014. Bill joined Scottish Rite in the Valley of Nashua in 2007. He enjoyed traveling to many Masonic and Eastern Star functions with his son-in-law Jeff.
Professionally, he worked in food service at Harvard University and other Boston area universities before moving to New Hampshire. After moving, he worked at the US Post Office in Nashua where he sorted mail for many years, memorizing the location of every street in the city. During his postal career he worked repairing machinery, managing the Nashua South Station branch, and maintaining stamp machines in the area. Bill took a course in breeding Beefalo and started Whitney Beefalo Farm. Later he had a small handy man business for a bit.
Bill was an avid reader. He enjoyed painting, classic movies, music and musicals, loved puzzles of all sorts, and always did the crosswords in pen. He was proud of his Scottish heritage, his family, and adored his grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his brother Arthur Whitney, his sister Dorothy Swain, and his foster brother William Stevenson. He leaves behind his wife of 45 years, Susan; his daughter Gail Brown, her husband Jeffrey, and their daughters Jeannette, Abigail, Caroline and Susannah; his son Charles Whitney, his girlfriend Lori Flynn MacDonald, and his sons Aidan and Logan; and his son Shaun Whitney, and his wife Meaghan; his sisters Virginia Phillips, Mary Braman, and Genevieve Touchton; and many extended family members.
SERVICES: All are welcome to attend a celebration of life on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at 2pm, with a Masonic Service at 2:30pm, at the Nashua Masonic Temple, 200 Main St., Nashua, NH. Interment will be at the NH State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (lbda.org) or the Nashua Children’s Dyslexia Center (200 Main St., Nashua, NH 03060). The DAVIS FUNERAL HOME, One Lock St., Nashua is assisting the family with arrangements.