William Wilson Colmer
Colmer Monument Works; active Shriner
TEWKSBURY: William Wilson Colmer, age 86, died February 4, 2012. He was born in Lowell on May 7, 1925, the son of the late William L. Colmer and the late Gertrude (Wilson) Colmer.
He was the beloved husband of Carol (Mulno) Colmer for 53 years.
Raised in Lowell and Chelmsford, he had lived in Tewksbury since 1963 and was a lifelong summer resident of Saco, Maine.
Bill left Chelmsford High School in 1943 to join the Navy. As a young sailor in the Navy Armed Guard during WWII, sailing on Liberty ships, he enjoyed his years in the service, never discussing the danger, but always emphasizing the camaraderie on board ship. He sailed the world to ports in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Cape Town, South Africa, Lagos, Nigeria, the Persian Gulf and Grenach, Scotland. He participated in the famed Murmansk Run, traveling through the dangerous waters of the northern Atlantic, transporting supplies to Russia. After the war he joined his father in Colmer Monument Works, a business begun by his grandfather, William C. Colmer. He remained as proprietor until his retirement in 1993.
A 32nd degree Mason, he belonged to Ancient York Lodge and Scottish Rite Bodies and was an active member of the Aleppo Temple Arab Patrol, where he was a proud member of its color guard. He was a lifelong member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Lowell and served on the Board of Trustees at the Lowell Cemetery for over 35 years. Also a busy hobbyist, he enjoyed woodworking, photography, model railroads and model making.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his beloved daughter and son-in-law, Leslie and Jeffrey Estrella, and his cherished grandson, William Estrella, all of Tewksbury, as well as his dear sister, Shirley E. Colmer of Chelmsford. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Mildred Mulno of Tewksbury, Eileen Mulno of Washington, DC, as well as several nieces and a nephew. He was also the brother-in-law of the late H. Lincoln Mulno, III and Bruce Mulno.
Calling hours Wednesday, Feb. 8, from 4-8 p.m., at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee St., Tewksbury. Funeral services will be held Thursday, Feb. 9, at 10 a.m., at St. John's Episcopal Church, 260 Gorham St., Lowell. There will not be a procession from the funeral home. Please meet the family at church. Interment at Lowell Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children- Boston, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114.