Newell J. "Newt" Dyer

Newell J. 'Newt' Dyer of Lunenburg, Korean War vet; 79 LUNENBURG Newell J. "Newt" Dyer, 79, of 219 Whalom Road, Lunenburg, died early Monday morning, September 15, 2008, at Leominster Hospital, after a short illness. Two brothers, Charles H. Dyer Jr. and wife, Doris of North Port, Florida, and a brother, Donald J. Dyer and wife, Diane of Nashua survive him. He also leaves Martin, Lori, Shawn, Carrie, Robert, Danny, and Richard his nieces and nephews. A sister, Virginia predeceased Newt in 1997. Newt was born in Greenfield, MA, on October 26, 1928, the son of Charles H. Dyer and Valentine (Papillon) Dyer. He moved to Leominster in 1938 living at Sargent Ave. He attended Leominster High School and graduated in 1946. Later that year, he and his family moved to Townsend. For the past 30 years, he lived on Whalom Road in Lunenburg. This is where he enjoyed working in his garden and growing all kinds of vegetables, especially his hot peppers. He enjoyed ice car racing out on Whalom Lake and was part of the Whalom Auto Racing Association. He won many races driving the number #13 car. Newt also enjoyed tinkering out in his garage on almost anything that had a motor, but his pride and joys were his 2 Ford Model's, a 1931 Ford Victoria, and a 1930 Ford Coupe. He served in the U.S. Army and was in the Korean War. While in the Army he received the Army of Occupation Medal, Japan Korean Service Medal w/5 Bronze Service Stars, Distinguished Unit Emblem, Presidential Unit Citation, and a Republic of Korea United Nations Service Medal. Newt was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers (Local #004). Over the years, he worked for Cannavino Construction, P.J. Keating Company, and San-Vel Stone and Gravel, where he was a heavy equipment operator before retiring in 1990. In his retirement years in the summer you could find him at the beach (Salisbury), sitting in the sun reading a good book or tending to his flowers and tomato plants. In the winter months he liked visiting Mexico and Puerto Rico. He had a nickname for everyone he knew, no matter if they were a family member or friend. Newt also will be greatly missed by Mark Testa of Leominster, who he considered his son, and he affectionately referred to as "Buster", his wife Lisa, and their daughters, Christine and Brittney. DYER Funeral services and burial will be private. The Silas F. Richardson & Son Funeral Home, 106 West Street, Leominster is assisting the family with arrangements. www.richardsonfuneralhome.net.