William H.  Howard, Jr. – On Monday evening, April 8, 2019, William Henry Howard Jr. passed away at age 88.  He was a loving husband and father of five children.

Bill was born on September 7, 1930 in Peabody, MA to William H., Sr. and Dorothy May (Waring) Howard. He entered the U.S. Marine Corp at the age of 21 and he served overseas during the Korean War. On July 11, 1953, he married the love of his life, Shirley Ann. They raised two sons, Scot and David, and three daughters, Cynthia, Lynne and Laura. He was a godly father and was committed to leading his family to Christ just as he was lead by his mother and grandmother. He will be fondly remembered for his love for singing all the old hymns. Some of his favorites were “Amazing Grace”, “Old Rugged Cross”, “I Come to the Garden Alone”, and “Victory in Jesus”.

Bill was a graduate of Lowell Technological Institute and the Massachusetts State Police Academy. He served from 1959-1970 as an auxiliary patrolman in North Reading. He then served the Topsfield force for three years before accepting the position of Sergeant in Boxford where he served from 1973 – 1980, until he started his own landscaping business. He was known for his quiet and gentle spirit, his love for his God and family, and his kind and compassionate heart. His greatest desire is to see all his children, his grandchildren and great grandchildren come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and find the true joy in giving God your life. 3 John 1:4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

Besides his passion for his Savior, Bill also had a love for golf and got to spend many days pursuing his passion by playing as well as working a few days a week at the local golf clubs during his retirement.

Bill was preceded in death by his precious wife, Shirley Ann Howard and his two sons, William Scot and David Earnest. He is survived by his three daughters, Cynthia Eramo (Vincent) from North Reading, Lynne Valentine (Rick) from Greene, Maine and Laura  LeFort (Todd) from Fredericksburg, VA; his two sisters, Betty Carpenter of Wakefield, MA and Carol McLaughlin (Tom) from Port Charlotte, FL. He also leaves behind twelve grandchildren, W. Scot Howard (Heather), Stephen Williams (Lora), Melissa Howard-Beutler (Jason), Luke D. Howard, Niki Valentine-Stevens (TJ), Adam C. and Tyler V. Eramo, Katelyn, Grant, Luc, Lindsey and Jace LeFort;  seven great-grandchildren, Noah, Jude and Seth Howard, Malachi and Maddox Richtmyre, Victoria Williams and Madison Valentine, as well as nephews and nieces.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 13th at the First Church Congregational Boxford, 4 Georgetown Road, Boxford at 1:00 PM. Interment will follow at Boxford Village Cemetery in Boxford. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to The Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org  or to the First Congregational Church Boxford, Food Pantry, 4 Georgetown Road, Boxford, MA 01921.  Arrangements are by the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

F. Richard Standley – 90, of North Reading, died at his home on Friday, April 5, 2019. He was the beloved husband of the late Genevieve G. (Chisholm) Standley.

Born in Melrose, MA. He was the son of the late Frederick J. and Dessie Estelle (Lamb) Standley. He was a lifelong resident of North Reading. He attended school in North Reading and the Essex Agricultural School in Middleton.

Dick was a mink rancher for the Little Meadow Fur Farm, which he owned and operated with his brother Robert,  he also owned and operated Standley Salvage, both in North Reading for many years. He was a member of Northeastern Mink Breeders Association.

He was known for being a hard worker and was dedicated to his family. He was always willing to help anyone in need. Dick belonged to Checkmates Square Dancing, he owned 3 small airplanes at the Tew-Mac Airport in Tewksbury, he always enjoyed flying with his wife every Sunday and going to breakfast every day.

Family members include his loving daughter, Marlene Standley of North Reading; sons, James E. Standley and the late Fred R. “Dickie” Standley, Jr.; his granddaughter, Jennifer Wilson; late brothers, Robert D. and Donald H. Standley.

Funeral services will be private and are under the direction of the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

**Not for social media please!

Kenneth C. Forbes – 75, of Fremont, NH, formerly of Orr’s Island, ME and Londonderry, NH, died Saturday, March 30, 2019, at Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NH.

Born in Malden, MA on September 14, 1943. He was the son of the late Charles E. and Shirley (Pattee) Forbes. He was a graduate of Medford High School and received his Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from St. Anselm’s College in Goffstown, NH.

Ken was a New Hampshire State Trooper and retired after 21 years of service.  After retirement, he spent 5 years with the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Department.  Prior to living in New Hampshire, he worked at the Revere Sugar Refinery in Charlestown, MA.

He was known for his character and integrity throughout his life. Ken was a good man and a truly devoted husband and father. He treated everyone with respect and kindness. Ken was always willing to help family and friends and participated in helping charity organizations. He was a proud and loving grandfather.

Ken loved motorcycles, NASCAR, and home-team sports, the Patriots and Red Sox. He enjoyed traveling with his wife and family to different parts of the U.S.A. He was a member of the Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club. He lived in Orr’s Island Maine for 14 years, enjoying his retirement and in Londonderry, NH during his Law Enforcement career and raising his daughters.

Family members include his loving wife of 51 years, Florence (Silva) Forbes; his daughters, Linda Tiffany and her husband Matt of Durham, ME and Suzanne Berry and her husband John of Statesville, NC; his brothers, Raymond Scott Forbes and his wife Judi of Castleton, VT and the late David L. Forbes; his sister-in-law, Caroline Forbes of Newburyport, MA; six grandchildren, Lily, Seth, Nina, Eliana, Sadie Jane and Noah. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Friday, April 5 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Funeral service at the Funeral Home on Saturday, April 6 at 11:00 AM. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, www.theaftd.org or to National Aphasia Association, www.aphasia.org    www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Richard  A. “Dick” Roberts – 86, of North Reading and formerly of Reading, passed away at his home on Saturday, March 30, 2019, after a lengthy illness.

Born in Reading, MA on February 16, 1933. He was the son of the late William and Mary J. (Quinn) Roberts. He was raised in Reading and was a graduate Reading High School. Dick was a U.S. Army Veteran, he was a SP-3 and served from 1955  to 1957.

He worked at the Watertown Arsenal as draftsman and machinist, the Department of Defense in Andover and as an Industrial Technician for NASA in Cambridge.

Dick can only be described as standup guy. A man’s man who will be dearly missed and never be forgotten, because he made the world a better place being in it. Dick was an adventurous spirit who loved a challenge, whether it was a Sudoku puzzle at home or climbing a mountain. He was also always available to be there for his friends and family, he was full of life donating much of his time and effort to many charities including St. Jude’s and Veteran’s of War. Dick built all the planters and bird feeders on the deck he built. He has been a resident of North Reading for the past 30 years and a member of the Loyal Order of Moose.

Family members include his loving wife of 20 years, Kathleen J. (Woods) Roberts; sons, Steven, Michael and Chris Roberts, Richard and Paul Madison; his late daughter, Darlene Roberts; grandchildren, Ashley, Jack, Drew, Morgan, Ricky, Paul and Nicholas Madison, Devin, Steven and Jennifer Roberts and Heather Lisano, great grandchildren, Jackson Pagones, Logan Clifford, Ella and Ava Lisano; late brothers and sisters, William, Jr., Neil, Donald, Kenneth and Ronald Roberts, Mary V. Nickerson, Marjorie Greenleaf and Claire Partridge; and many nieces and nephews.

His funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow St., North Reading on Thursday, April 4 at 8:45 AM, followed by a 10 AM Funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter St. (Rt. 62), North Reading. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, April 3 from 4 to 7 PM. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 or to Wounded Warriors Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Ross Henderson – 84, of North Reading and formerly of Ohio, passed away at his home on Saturday, March 30, 2019.

Ross was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on February 24, 1935. He was the son of the late Frank L. and Bertha L. (Inglis) Henderson. He received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma and his Master’s in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.

Born and raised in the Canadian Rockies of British Columbia, Ross grew up with a love of the outdoors, including camping, skiing, canoeing, golfing and ice hockey.  He pursued these activities throughout his life, most notably playing in a men’s hockey league, coaching youth hockey, and skiing well into his 70’s.  He enjoyed bowling leagues, bridge clubs and traveling throughout the world.

He felt privileged to have had a successful 38-year career as an electrical engineer in the power electronics field where he was awarded for several patents. Although originally from the west he found family and roots in the east and has lived in North Reading for the past 51 years.

He enjoyed yearly visits to the childhood home of his wife of 62 years, Marilyn, in New Brunswick, Canada, and is where his final resting place will be.  Ross will be remembered for being humble and appreciative, of everything that life gave him including time, work opportunities, friendships and family.

Family members include his loving wife Marilyn S. (Smith) Henderson; his son Ross G. Henderson and his wife Kris of Auburn; his daughter Patricia Fillio and her husband Tom Karpowski of Newton, NH; he was the brother of Reid Henderson and his wife Linda of Nelson, British Columbia, Ruth Bolton and her husband Roland of Vernon, British Columbia and the late Rena Babiy; grandfather of David Fillio, Michael and Sarah Henderson and the late Allison Fillio; great grandfather of Rozelyn Fillio.

Visitation will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Thursday, April 4 from 4 to 7 PM. In lieu of flowers if one wishes to contribute to the following: Pomeroy Ridge Cemetery, c/o 478 Route 750 Valley Rd., NB E3L4V1 Canada, Perkins School for the Blind Talking Book Library, 175 North Beacon St., Watertown, MA 02472 or to the charity of one’s choice.