William F. Mattimore, 81

Shrewsbury - Monsignor William F. Mattimore, 81, formerly of Hawaii, died Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007 in the UMass- Memorial Medical Center after an illness.

He leaves his brother, Paul Mattimore, and his sisters, Rita Withstandley and Mary Mattimore.

Born in Worcester, the son of William and Julia (Hogan) Mattimore, he graduated in 1943 from St. John's High School, then located on Temple Street in Worcester, and studied for the priesthood at St. Charles Seminary in Catonsville, Maryland and the Grand Seminary in Montreal.

After his ordination at St. Paul's Cathedral by Bishop John Wright on June 24, 1951, he was named an associate pastor at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Spencer. In October 1952, he became an associate pastor at St. Patrick Parish in Whitinsville.

In 1957, Father Mattimore entered the U.S. Air Force to serve as a chaplain. During his 34 years in the Air Force, he was assigned to many Air Force bases across the country and around the world, including several years in Hawaii.

After retiring from the Air Force in 1991 with the rank of colonel, he was granted permission by Bishop Timothy Harrington to serve as a parish priest in the Diocese of Honolulu. In 1997, he became the pastor of St. George's Parish in Waimanalo on the Island of Oahu in Hawaii. In June 2001, he was named a Monsignor in the Church by to the Worcester area late last year. On Aug. 26, the parishioners of St. George's Church in Waimanalo renamed their parish center as The Father Bill Gathering Place.

A funeral mass was celebrated Oct. 3 from St. Mary's Church, with burial at St. John's Cemetery in Worcester. The Athy Memorial Home of Worcester directed arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to St. George's Church, 41- 1323 Kalanianaole Highway, Waimanalo, HI 96795 or St. John's High School, 378 Main St., Shrewsbury 01545.