Belmont-----Walter J. Vorse 98, of Belmont died peacefully at his home, Wednesday, December 23, 2015.
Walter was born December 3, 1917 in Leominster, Massachusetts, son to the late Joseph and Agnes (Henighan) Vorse. The eldest of 5 siblings, Walter graduated from Leominster High School and Fitchburg State College, and received a master’s degree from Harvard University. He married Elinore R. Scully on September 6, 1941. They were married for 66 years until her death in 2008. They enjoyed an active lifestyle, skiing into their late 80’s, and golfing even longer. Numerous golf trips to Scotland and Ireland, horseback riding in the Rockies, and skiing all over the country and in Switzerland kept them on the go. Walter played nearly 100 rounds of golf the last summer of his life.
Walter served in the US Navy in World War II as the 25 year old Captain of a ship in the Pacific theatre, from Okinawa to Leyte, and participated in mine sweeping operations in the Japanese harbors at the end of the war. After the war, he returned to teaching, eventually spending 12 years as a Superintendent of Schools in Lynnfield and South Hadley, Mass., followed by 20 years as a Professor of Education at SUNY Potsdam, NY, retiring in 1983 to Belmont.
Survivors include his son, Brian T. Vorse and his partner Susan Manion of Colchester, Vt; 2 daughters, Patricia M. Lauber of Cheyenne, WY and Eileen M. Wilkinson of Springfield, MA; 5 Grandchildren, Tanya Wilkinson of North Hollywood CA, Cariel Wilkinson of Springfield MA, Andan Lauber of Campbell CA, Jennifer Vorse Wilka and her husband Matt Wilka of Mill Valley CA, and Colin Vorse and his partner Torrey Kelm of NY, NY; several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife Elinore, brothers Bernard, Lawrence and Donald, sister Claire Janda, and brother-in-law Paul Janda.
Calling hours will be held Sunday, January 10, 2016 from 2:00pm-4:00pm at the Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH, using the Carriage House entrance.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, January 11, 2016 at 10:00am St. Joseph Parish, 96 Main Street, Belmont, NH 03220.
Burial will follow at 2:30pm in the family lot at St. Leo’s Cemetery in Leominster, MA.
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.