Werner E. Tanner

MARLBOROUGH Werner E. "Bill" Tanner , 86, husband of 60 years of Phyllis (Lynch) Tanner, died Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008, after a long period of failing health. Born in West New York, N.J., he was the son of the late Jacob and Marie (Kueng) Tanner, and lived in Marlborough for over 50 years. He was a graduate of Ridgefield Park New Jersey High School and New York University. During World War II, he served in the United States Air Force as a flight leader bomber pilot, flying 60 missions over England and France as an original member of the 643rd squadron. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Cluster. Following the war, he served in the Air Force Reserves, retiring after 20 years as a Lt. Col., and was a longtime member of the 409th bomb group Association, serving six years as treasurer. He was employed for many years as New England district credit manager of the American Sugar Refining Co., and later as branch manager of the former First National Bank of Marlborough. He was a member and past president of the former Marlborough Kiwanis Club. Besides his wife, he leaves four children, James J. Tanner and his wife, Mary Kay, of Montgomery Ala., Dorothy T. Krant and her husband, Richard, of Osterville, Richard L. Tanner and his wife, Dawn, of New Town, Conn., and John C. Tanner and his wife, Kimberly, of Franklin, and 12 grandchildren, Kelly and Trip Krant, Joy, Jimmy, Jillian, Kristin, Caroline, Dean, Ross, Grant, Chase and Jamie Tanner. His funeral will be held Thursday, Oct. 9, at 11 a.m., in St .Matthias Church, 409 Hemenway St. Burial will be Friday, Oct. 10, at 10:30 a.m., in the V.A. National Cemetery, Bourne. Friends may visit at the William R. Short and Son Funeral Home, 95 West Main St., Marlborough, on Thursday from 9 to 10:30 a.m., prior to the service. Memorial contributions in his memory may be made to: Development Fund of Marlborough Hospital, c/o Linda Dodge, 157 Union St, Marlborough, MA 01752, or to the Friends of Best Buddies Franklin Inc., c/o Sue Streeter, 27 Dover Circle, Franklin, MA 02038.