WEST GLOUCESTER: LeRoy H. “Roy” Garland, 88, died peacefully Tuesday morning, March 19, 2013, following a brief illness. He was the devoted husband of the late Eleanore J. (Dort) Garland, who died on October 22, 2012. They had shared sixty years of marriage.
Born in Gloucester on May 14, 1924, he was the son of the late Norman M., Sr. and Caroline H. (Middleton) Garland. He was a lifelong resident and graduate of Gloucester High School.
A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he enlisted in June of 1942 and seved through January of 1946.
Roy joined the Gloucester Fire Department in 1947 and served until his retirement in 1984. At that time, he was on Engine No. 5 at the West Gloucester Station and proudly held Badge #1. He fought in all the major fires in Gloucester in the 1950’s and early 1960’s. He had met his beloved wife, Eleanore, while responding to a fire at Archie’s, her family restaurant, in Magnolia Square.
He and his brother, Norm, along with a group of brothers from the Fire Department, enjoyed traveling to their camp in Maine for deer hunting season in November. He was an active member of the Gloucester Fireman’s relief Association and also anjoyed golfing.
He is survived by his sister, Esther Garland of FL; his brother-in-law, Charles, husband of Mary Dort of Ipswich; dear friends, Earle and June Greenwood, William and Gloria Newman and Douglas and Sharon MacArthur; and among many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, he leaves Darlene Harding and her family. He was also predeceased by his brother, Norman M. “Bub” Garland, Jr. and a sister and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Stilson Cleveland.
His funeral service will be held on Friday morning in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the Gloucester Firefighter’s Relief Fund, 8 School Street, Gloucester. Interment will be held in the Beechbrook Cemetery.