Westborough – William Francis Carr, 90, passed away Dec. 11, 2018 at the St. Francis Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Worcester, surrounded by his loving family.
Born Nov. 5, 1928 in Gardner, he was the son of the late William E. Carr and Antoinette M. (Metevier) Carr.
William grew up in Gardner and Athol, graduating from Athol High School in 1946. He served in the U.S. Marines from 1946-1948. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry, and later received his Master’s Degree in Military History from Worcester State College. He has also lived in New York, Amherst, Westfield, and Groton, Conn., and for the past 54 years had resided in Westborough.
William was a forester that loved the outdoors very much. He also worked at Honeywell which later became Modus in Northborough, for many years until his retirement in 1997. He had previously worked for AT&T in New York City, United Aircraft Corp-Hamilton Standard, General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Ct and Jamesbury Corp. in Worcester. While at United Aircraft, William assisted in the development of the suits and backpacks for the Apollo II LEM.
William was a longtime member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and the American Legion. He enjoyed building model airplanes, collecting stamps, exercising and socializing at the Westborough Tennis Club, hunting and fishing and many other outdoor activities. He also loved visiting and volunteering for many patients at Westborough Healthcare and Beaumont Rehabilitation.
He was also a war history buff and wrote his thesis called “A Pact with the Devil.” This book has been published five times, with many book signings over the years. William also loved and played football while in high school, at UMass and in the Marines. He also helped coach over the years at Westborough High School.
William leaves his wife, Joan (Raymond) Carr, whom he married Nov. 5, 1955; four children, Patrick Carr, Westborough, Salle Bows, Westborough, Michael Carr, Shrewsbury and Joanne Carr, Westborough; a sister, Natalie Koncal of Greenfield; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, Dec. 15, at 10:30 a.m., in St. Luke the Evangelist Church, 70 West Main St., Westborough. Burial, with military honors, will follow at Silverlake Cemetery in Athol. Calling hours are Friday, Dec. 14, from 4-7 p.m., at the Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home, 62 West Main St., Westborough. A brief prayer service will be conducted by the Knights of Columbus at 6:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the William Carr Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Town Treasurer, 34 West Main St., Westborough, MA 01581. Please make check payable to “Town of Westborough.”
