Joseph P. Mearls

Joseph P. Mearls retired from Tewksbury Hospital, Veteran; 86 Tewksbury Joseph P. Mearls, age 86, a WWII Veteran, died peacefully at his home, surrounded by family, on Veterans Day, Monday, November 12. He was the husband of the late Ella J. (Frizzell) Mearls, who died in 1985. He was born in Cambridge on March 12, 1921, one of seven children of the late William and Julia (Driscoll) Mearls. He was raised in Winchester, but had lived in Tewksbury since 1951. He served the US Army during WWII, under the command General George Patten in North Africa, Sicily, and later, mainland Italy. He earned 4 Battle Stars during his military service. He was employed as a heavy equipment operator for a number of local companies, worked at Bethlehem Steel, and retired from the grounds crew at Tewksbury Hospital, where he had served for over 12 years. He was a communicant of St. Dorothy's Church in Wilmington, and was described by his children as having devoted his life to his wife and family. He is survived by a son Daniel Mearls and his wife Terry of Pelham, NH; two daughters, Elizabeth Poloian of Tewksbury, Judy Wing and her husband Mark of Dracut; a sister, Mary O'Keefe of Arlington; nine grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was also father of the late Jeannette "Jan" Martin; and brother of the late John Mearls, Kay Laughlin, Thomas, William, and Julia Mearls. MEARLS of Tewksbury, Nov. 12, WW2 Army Veteran; Joseph P. Mearls, age 86. His funeral will begin on Thursday at 8:45 a.m. from the TEWKSBURY FUNERAL HOME, corner of Dewey and Main Sts. (Rte 38) TEWKSBURY CENTER, phone (800 in MA or 978) 851 2950. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15, at St. Dorothy's Church, Main St. (Rte 38) Wilmington. Burial will follow at Tewksbury Cemetery. Visiting hours Wednesday 4 to 7 p.m. in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St. Framingham, MA 01701 tewksburyfuneralhome.com