Laconia----Anthony “Tony” E. Morse, 89, of 21 Ledges Drive, Taylor Community, died at the Taylor Home on Saturday, October 23, 2010.
Mr. Morse was born April 1, 1921 in Manchester, N.H. the son of Elvin N. & Isabelle L. (Menzies) Morse.
He was a 1939 Graduate of Manchester Central High School, a graduate of UNH, and also received a MBA from BU.
In 1943, during WW2, in his 12th Mission as a Bombardier, Lt. Morse's B-17 was shot down over Germany. He was captured 12 hours later and became a POW in Germany for 23 months. During his prison time, he educated himself at many things including drawing and had many stories of his time there. He won the Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster and was credited with 80 combat hours before falling into enemy hands.
After returning home to Manchester, he enrolled at UNH and got his degree in business. He married Lois Moore of Manchester in 1947. They lived many years in Worcester, Massachusetts. They also built a camp on Long Island, Moultonboro, NH (Lake Winnipesaukee) where they enjoyed time with family and friends. His last residence for many years was the Taylor Home in Laconia, where until recently he was very active in Taylor Community events, researching a history of the Abenaki Indians at the Weirs, and doing talks on his WW2 experiences.
He was a long time employee and manager at Paul Revere Insurance Company in Worcester, Mass., until his retirement and permanent move to Gilford and then Laconia.
He was a member of Guiding Lights Lodge, A.F. & A.M. (Auburn, MA) and a Past Master of the Athelstan Lodge.
He always had a smile on his face and loved clowning with all his nieces and nephews! He will be missed.
He is survived by one sister, Ruth (Morse) Demers, of Manchester and many beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. He was predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Lois (Moore) Morse, by his parents, Elvin and Isabelle (Menzies) Morse of Manchester, by a brother, Albert Morse, and by a sister, Margaret “Peg” (Morse) Bartlett.
Per his wishes, there will be no calling hours or funeral. He will be interred beside his wife, Lois, at Bayside Cemetery in Laconia.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.