TEWKSBURY: William J. Hurton, age 78, a former Tewksbury selectman, finance committee member and town moderator, died Friday, April 13, 2007 at the Tewksbury Hospital, following a brief illness.
He was the husband of Priscilla L. (Lane) Hurton, with whom he celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary on April 11th.
Born in Malden, on November 29, 1928, he was the son of the late Michael J. and Rose (Carlan) Hurton.
Mr. Hurton was raised in Malden, attended Malden schools and graduated from Malden High School in 1946.
Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Mr. Hurton served during World War II in Battery C, 31st Field Artillery Battalion. He was awarded several decorations including the World War II Victory Medal and the Army Occupation Medal.
Prior to his retirement in 1982, he was employed as a manager by the New England Telephone Company in Boston, where he worked for over 30 years.
Mr. Hurton resided in Tewksbury since 1954 and was a communicant of St. William’s Parish.
In 1988, he was elected to the Tewksbury Board of Selectman and later appointed as the board’s chairman. In addition, he previously served for 13 years as the Town Moderator and was a 7 year member of the town’s Finance Committee.
Mr. Hurton was a member of the Fr. Francis Coppens Council # 4336 Knights of Columbus of Tewksbury, the Tewksbury Lions Club, the Tewksbury Golden Age Club and Senior Drop-in-Center, and the Massa-Schussers Ski Club of Malden.
According to his family he was an avid golfer and was a 39 year member and past president of the Longmeadow Golf Club of Lowell. In addition, he enjoyed bowling, traveling to Florida, Nova Scotia and California and skiing in North Conway, New Hampshire area.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Joan C. Hurton of Tewksbury and Anne M. Hurton of Lowell; one son, Michael J. Hurton and his wife Sue (Tartaro) of Tewksbury; three grandchildren, Sarah, Stephen and Rachel Hurton all of Tewksbury; one sister, Marion Bransfield and her husband James of Wilmington; one brother, Paul J. Hurton and his wife Joan of Melrose; his brother-in-law, Philip Lane and his wife Winnie of Laguna, CA; also many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Mr. Hurton was the brother of the late Arlene Kellogg and brother-in-law of the late William Kellogg and Elizabeth Trafton.
Calling hours Monday, April 16th, from 4-8 p.m., at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee St., Tewksbury. Funeral Tuesday, April 17th, at 9 a.m., from the funeral home, followed by his Funeral Mass at 10 a.m., at St. William’s Church, 1351 Main St., Rte. 38, Tewksbury. Interment at Tewksbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Longmeadow Golf Club, c/o Scholarship Fund, 165 Havilah St., Lowell, MA 01852 or to the Oblate Infirmary Fund, 486 Chandler St., Tewksbury, MA 01876 are requested.