William Arthur Park

William Arthur Park, of East Hampton, passed away Monday, July 25, 2012, at Duncaster in Bloomfield. He was the husband of the late June Yeomans Park.

William was born in Manchester in 1918, the son of the late Millard and Elsie Gilbert Park. Bill graduated from Manchester High School in 1936. During World War II he served as a flight engineer in the U.S. Navy Patrol Bombing Squadron VPB32. Most of his flying time was in Martin Patrol Bombers, providing anti-submarine coverage for convoys in the Caribbean and the North Atlantic. He later worked for the Southern New England Telephone Co., retiring in 1982 with 42 years of service in the installation and engineering departments. Bill lived in Wapping and Guilford prior to moving to East Hampton. He was a former officer of the Wapping Grange, a chairman of the Wapping YMCA, and past president of the Wapping Fair Association. He was also a member of the Manchester Square Dance Club, the Telephone Pioneers of America, the PBM Mariner Association, and the Association of Naval Aviation. The proud owner of a 1940 Ford convertible, he was a member of the Shoreline Auto Club, the Early Ford V8 Club, and the Antique Automobile Club of America. Bill was also a past president of the Pocotopaug Community Corp. and the Guilford High School Band Boosters.

Bill is survived by his sister, Betty Thurber of Manchester; and was predeceased by his brother, Gilbert. He leaves his daughter, Marilyn Krentzman, her husband, Ronald; son, David and wife, Iwona; and grandchildren, Julie Park, David Park, Laura Krentzman, and Daria Park; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 30, at 11 a.m. in the Spencer Funeral Home, 112 Main St., East Hampton, with the Rev. Fred Dole officiating. Burial will follow in Lakeview Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Spencer Funeral Home on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m.

The family wishes to thank his many wonderful caregivers, among them Dr. Robert Dicks, APRNs Leanne Shaw-Quinn and Sheila Murphy, Dr. Jeffrey Walden, Dr. Ashley Shepard, Dr. Mary Windels, Dr. Elzbieta Basil, and the staffs of Brookdale and Duncaster. We also are deeply appreciative of the McLean Hospice nurses and his aide, Kofi Gyamfitti of Unity Home Care.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bill's name may be made to McLean Hospice, 75 Great Pond Road, Simsbury, CT.