Walter Coleman Doremus

DOREMUS Walter Coleman Doremus Business owner Served with Seabees during WWII, 93 WWII Navy veteran, 93 Walter Coleman Doremus of Montville Township passed away peacefully on Friday, Jan. 12, 2007, at St. Clares Hospital, Denville. He was 93. The family will receive friends on Monday, Jan. 15 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. with masonic services conducted at 7:30 p.m. at the Mackey Funeral Home, 107 Essex Ave., Boonton. Memorial service for Mr. Doremus will be held on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007, at the Montville Reformed Church, Montville. Born on Jan. 4, 1914, in his family home on Passaic Valley Road in Montville, Mr. Doremus remained a lifelong resident of the town. With a great sense of humor and compassion, he lived a long, full life, witnessing many changes from the days of horse and buggy to space exploration. He was industrious, starting as a young schoolboy working on local farms to help deliver milk by horsedrawn wagon year round. During the Great Depression, Mr. Doremus left Boonton High School to help support his family. He later co-owned/operated Doremus Bros., Crawford Doors with his brother, Everett for 40 years before retiring in 1997. He served honorably with the Seabees unit of the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945. Mr. Doremus was a dedicated 50-year member of St. Johns Lodge 1 F&AM, and was a past master of the lodge. He was an avid outdoorsman and gardener, who traveled extensively across the U.S.A. by RV with his wife, Dot. He loved time spent at their cabin Hodge Hollow in Pennsylvania, and sharing a good joke with friends. His talents as a builder and fixer of most everything led him to be a member of the N.J. Homebuilders Association. Mr. Doremus was a life-member of the Montville Reformed Church, dedicating many volunteer hours in service to others. He leaves his family and friends with many wonderful memories and will be missed by all. Mr. Doremus was predeceased by his parents, Walter A. and Ethel (Coleman) Doremus. He is survived by his wife and loving childhood friend, Dorothy (nee Conway); three daughters, Joan Erbs and her husband, Robert of Andover, Susan Chelpaty and her husband, Tony of Andover, and Robin Cutillo and her husband, Ralph of Sparta; a brother, Everett of Bethlehem, Pa.; a sister, Shirley Tlucka of Alpine, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Tony, Heather, Jennifer, Jeffrey, Jenna, Megan and Katherine, and five great-grandchildren, Justin, Parker, Jake, Kelsey and Samantha. Memorial contributions in his name may be made to the Montville Reformed Church, 9 Church Lane, Montville, N.J. 07045.