Gilford-----William Charles Gilson, Sr., passed away October 21, 2012.
William was born March 22, 1943 in Laconia, N.H., the son of Dallas P. & Dorothy L. (Smith) Gilson. He grew up in Laconia and spent summers with his family at their camp on Lake Winnisquam. He graduated from Laconia High School in 1961 and from the New Hampshire Technical School in 1963.
Bill served in the U. S. Army Reserves from 1964-1970. He was married in 1964 and then moved to Bristol, N.H. in 1965. He was employed at I.P.C. (now Freudenberg) in Purchase and sales thru the early 1970’s. He was a proprietor of the Bristol Tire and Battery, across from the then Spain’s Diner, in the late 1970’s. He worked in sales at Samuel Eastman Co. in Concord, N.H. in the 1980’s. He also worked for a time at Rochester Shoe Tree in Ashland, N.H.
Bill taught Hunter Safety and was recognized for forty years as an instructor in the Hunter Safety Education Program. He was also an active member of the Bristol Jaycees and had fond memories of working on such projects as the BB Gun Team, Sock-Hop dances and their Marching Militia in Bristol’s 1976 Bicentennial Parade.
His interest in antique firearms and cartridges lead him to attend ammo and gun shows throughout the Northeast. He was a history buff and liked canoeing, hunting, reading, traveling and spending time with his grandkids. After his second marriage in 1986, he moved to New Hampton and added square dancing and gardening to his list of interests.
In 2008 he retired from his job of fourteen years in paint sales at Ashland Lumber in Ashland, N.H. After a month long illness, he moved to Gilford, N.H. to be nearer to his family. Bill spent his retirement maintaining his hobbies and interests, such as buying his dream car, going to his grandkids’ school events and attending his 50th High School Class Reunion.
Bill is greatly missed. He is survived by his loving children, daughter, Deborah E. Gilson Filteau, of Bristol, N.H.; son, William C. “Billy” Gilson, Jr., and his wife, Wanda, of Moultonboro, N.H.; his beloved grandchildren, Mason R. and Spencer W. Filteau of Bristol, N.H., Alana D. & Erica L. Gilson, of Moultonboro, N.H.; his first wife, Cheryl Sue (Boyd) Martin, of Bristol, N.H.; his brother, Dallas “Sonny” Gilson, and his wife, Carol, of Gilford, N.H.; a nephew, Tom Gilson. and his wife, Karen, of Concord, N.H., a nephew, Tim Gilson, of Moultonboro, N.H., a niece, Stephanie Richardson, and her husband, Jim, of Gilford, N.H.; his second wife, Diane (Gagnon)Bacon, of New Hampton, N.H., other nieces and nephews and many cousins and friends.
There will be no calling hours.
A Memorial Service will be announced at a later date.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.