NEW BEDFORD — Thomas R. Wholley Jr., 104, of New Bedford, MA passed away quietly, Saturday, March 23, 2019, having suffered a stroke recently at Hathaway Manor Nursing Home in New Bedford, where he had been residing for about two months.
Tom, son of the late Thomas R. Wholley Sr. of New Bedford, a Lt. in the New Bedford Fire Department, and Mary (Dodge) Wholley of Hyde Park, MA; also predeceased by two brothers, the late Donald E. Wholley of West Springfield, MA; the late James F. Wholley of Norwood, MA; and a sister, the late Louise Conery of Warwick, R.I.
Until his death Saturday, Tom was known to be the oldest living retired firefighter in the NBFD having served from 1941 - 1943 until he volunteered to serve with the US Army Air Force in World War II, after which he resumed to his position in the NBFD from 1945 until his retirement in 1972.
During the War, Staff Sgt. Wholley was presented the Bronze Star medal for his service under dangerous conditions as firefighter, crash crew supervisor, and enlisted fire chief at the Eighth AAF base outside of Norwich England, where firefighting units he supervised stood by to assist Airmen who were casualties of combat and to put out fires as needed.
Upon returning to duty with the NBFD he was assigned to Station 2 where he worked in various capacities including chauffeur for the late Chief Andrews and firefighter on several apparatus. One of the achievements he was most proud of includes being on the committee that came up with the idea for placing a monument at Buttonwood Park in honor of deceased firefighters and presiding over the first Firefighter Memorial Sunday.
Tom had a quick wit and sense of humor and loved New Bedford and it’s unique history, where he volunteered at the New Bedford Whaling Museum for thirty years as a docent. He also was a long time Barbershop Quartet member with the New Bedford Chapter of the Harpoon Harmonizers and was a life long communicant of St. Lawrence Church.
Tom is survived by his wife of 73 years, Marion (Booth) Wholley of Fairhaven, MA; a son, Senior Chief Musician, Thomas C Wholley, U.S. Navy Retired from New Bedford; and three daughters, Joanne Sinclair of Stoneham, MA and her husband, Jim; Judith Jaskiel of Salem, MA and her husband Stan; and Jeanne Dolan of Taunton MA and her husband, Greg; two grandchildren, Ethan Greenberg, a wildfire Firefighter in his grandfathers tradition and Zachary Greenberg of Attleboro MA, and several nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will take place at the Wilson Funeral Home, 479 County St., New Bedford, on Tuesday, March 26, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A funeral service will be held at 12:00 PM at Wilson Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 27, followed by a burial service at Rural Cemetery.