GLOUCESTER: Richard Wonson Tarr, 93, died early Saturday morning, September 12, 2009 at his home. He was the husband of the late H. Marjorie (Parsons) Tarr who died in January 1984.
Born in Gloucester on December 8, 1915, he was the son of the late Richard C. and Abbie F. (Wonson) Tarr. A lifelong resident of Gloucester he was a graduate of Gloucester High School class of 1933, where he was a Sawyer Medal recipient. He was a direct descendant of Richard Tarr, the original settler of Rockport and a grandson to George Marble Wonson of E. Gloucester. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he served in the Philippines before being honorably discharged.
Richard was the owner and operator of the Cape Ann Ticket & Label Company for over sixty years before retiring in 1995. A printer by trade, his true passion was steam railroading. He was also a troop leader of Boy Scout Troop #2 (later #45) for ten years.
He is survived by his son, Maj. Richard C. Tarr, (U.S. Army Retired) and his wife, Elaine of Yorktown, VA, a daughter, Marjorie and her husband, Peter E. Spinney of W. Gloucester, five grandchildren, Peter S. Spinney of Lowell, Andrew C. Spinney of Hamilton, Heather N. Spinney-Laidlaw of Danvers, Richard P. Tarr of California, MD and Tracy E. Fiore of Port Republic, MD, eight great-grandchildren, Abram and Quentin Spinney of Lowell, Hayden and Abigail Spinney of Hamilton, Richard “Jake” and Jordan Tarr of California, MD and Dominic and Olivia Fiore of Port Republic, MD, a brother, Kenneth F. and his wife, Barbara Tarr of Gloucester, a sister, Marilyn McNeill of New Port Richey, FL and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was also predeceased by a sister-in-law, Virginia and her husband, Roland Smith, a brother-in-law, Alvin McNeill, a nephew, Roland H. Smith, III, a beloved cousin, Richard Morris of Canada and a special uncle, Eben Tarr.
His funeral service will be held on Thursday in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester at 10:30 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday from 5 – 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Interment will be held in the Beechbrook Cemetery, W. Gloucester. Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway Museum, P.O. Box 242, Alna, ME 04535.