DARTMOUTH — Herbert Gilman Wing, retired U.S. diplomat, historian, and Army Officer passed away on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, at the age of 86 years.
Born in Carlisle, Pa., Dec. 10, 1925, to Professor Herbert Wing Jr., of Dickinson College and Helen Leonard (Gilman) Wing. His father's family had lived in Dartmouth, Mass., since about 1690, having come from Sandwich on Cape Cod where they were the first settlers. Mr. Wing spent all his summers in So. Dartmouth as a boy and, on retiring from the U.S. Foreign Service, purchased his residence in No. Dartmouth.
Mr. Wing attended the public schools in Carlisle, Pa., and graduated from Dickinson College at the head of his class in 1948 with an A.B. in history. His attendance was interrupted by wartime service. Following Dickinson, he attended Harvard University and obtained his A.M. in history in 1949 and continued work towards the Ph.D. for several years. While at Dickinson he belonged to Beta Theta Pi social fraternity and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Tau Delta Epsilon.
In 1952 Mr. Wing became a military historian with the U.S. Army Chemical Corps and served until 1956 when he resumed work on his doctoral dissertation. In 1957 President Eisenhower appointed him as a Foreign Service Officer of the United States, and he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
He then served his country as a diplomat for twenty-seven years in the Department of State as well as in U.S. Embassies. In the Department he was a country desk officer at various times for such nations as India, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Nepal, and the Maldives. Abroad he served as Third Secretary of Embassy in New Delhi, Second Secretary and Consul in San Jose, and First Secretary in Colombo. From 1973-1975 he was detailed to the Pentagon as Assistant Deputy Director for Plans and Policy in the Headquarters, USAF.
In 1975 he returned to the Department to the Bureau of International Organization Affairs where he became Deputy Director for Development and Humanitarian Programs. He was especially involved with UNICEF (UN Children's Fund) and won the Department's Meritorious Honor Award in 1980 for his efforts.
Assigned abroad in 1982, Mr. Wing served as Counselor in the U.S. Mission to the UN in Geneva, Switzerland. He retired in 1984.
A World War II veteran, he had served in the Medical Department of the U.S. Army in England and France as well as on the Army newspaper, "The Stars and Stripes." He re-enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve in 1949 and won a commission as Second Lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps in 1951. Later transferring to the Chemical Corps, he retired as a Captain in 1963.
Mr. Wing was a past president of the Wing Family of America, Inc., past vice-president of the New Bedford (Mass.) Glass Museum, past Chairman of the New Bedford chapter of SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), past president of the Paskamansett Bird Club and past chairman of the Dartmouth Republican Town Committee and longtime member of Dartmouth Town Meeting. He was also a former vestryman of Grace Episcopal Church, and a former trustee of the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Among other organizations he was a former member of the Wamsutta Club of New Bedford, the New Bedford Port Society, the Old Dartmouth Historical Society, and the Harvard Club of S.E. Massachusetts.
An ardent Mason, Mr. Wing belonged to Cumberland Star Lodge #197 St. John's Chapter #171, St. John's Council #5, and St. John's Commandery #8, all of Carlisle, Pa. In New Bedford he was affiliated with Quittacus Lodge, New Bedford Council, and Sutton Commandery #16.
Survivors include his sons, Andrew G. Wing of Wayne, Pa., and John H. Wing of Broomall, Pa.; his grandchild, Jaime Wing; and numerous nieces and nephews and cousins.
His funeral will take place on Saturday, August 11th at 10 A.M. in the Wilson Chapel, 479 County St., New Bedford with friends being received within the hour prior to his service. Burial will be in South Dartmouth Cemetery.
It is suggested remembrances be made in his name to the American Cancer Society