SPENCER; John Richard Sherman, Sr. 101, of No. Brookfield Rd., Spencer’s oldest living resident, died Tuesday, January 29 at his home.
He was the husband of Mary Claire (Jones) Sherman who died in 1956.
He leaves three sons; J. Richard Sherman, Jr. of Spencer, Robert F. Sherman and his wife Pamela of Brooklyn, NY, and Peter J. Sherman and his wife Sherry of High Point, NC, 7 grandchildren; J. Richard Sherman III, Anna Marie Sherman, Stephen A. Sherman and his wife Sara, Robert J. Sherman and his wife Dianne, Paul D. Sherman and his wife Valerie, Mary Claire Faulkner and her husband Brian, and Spencer Sherman, 4 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
He was pre-deceased by a sister, Mary Alonzo.
Born in Agawam, MA he was the son of Frederick D. & Maria D. (Guy) Sherman and lived there until 1946. He then moved to Floral Park, Long Island, NY and lived there until 1973 when he moved to Spencer.
Mr. Sherman was a controller for 20 years at Toots Shor Restaurant, N.Y.C., retiring in 1973. He served his country in the US Army during WW II and retired from the Army Reserves with the rank of LT. Colonel. J.R., as he was known, was a member of the Reserve Officer Association and Mary, Queen of the Rosary Parish. He was a life time member of the Sons of the Civil War Organization. He was a member of the Spencer Finance Committee as well as the Spencer Democratic Town Committee (past Chairman). He was a manager for 25 years of the David Prouty & George Bemis Trust Funds.
The funeral will be held Monday, February 4 from the J. HENRI MORIN & SON FUNERAL HOME, 23 Maple Terr., Spencer, with a Mass at 10 A.M. in Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 7 Church St., Spencer.
Calling hours are Sunday from 2-5 P.M. in the funeral home. Burial with Military Honors will be in the Long Island N.Y. National Cemetery, 2040 Wellwood Ave., Farmingdale, NY at 12:30 P.M. Tuesday, February 5. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Mary, Queen of the Rosary Church Food Pantry, 60 Maple St., Spencer, MA, 01562.