Berry L.. William

PETERSHAM - William Leftwich Berry, Sr., 87,of Petersham died Tuesday, August 23, 2005, in the Quabbin Valley Healthcare, Athol. He was born on October 15, 1917 in Washington, DC the son of Ralph Whitely Berry and Mary Magdalene O'Connor. He was predeceased by his wife Marianna Irene Trowbridge who died in 2004 He leaves six children, Charlotte B Kennan and her husband Dana W Kennan of Petersham, William L Berry, Jr. and his wife Katherine P. of Petersham, Elinor U. Hutchinson and her husband Carl R. of Sutton, Edward T Berry and his wife Jeanne M of Athol, Alfred M Berry and his wife Jill A. of Petersham, Robert O Berry and his wife Sharon M. of Rutland; 16 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by two children; James Marshall Berry who died in 1959 and Alice B Leaders who died in 1992 and by one brother; Ralph Moore Berry who died in 1984. Mr. Berry graduated in 1939 from Catholic University, Washington, DC with a Bachelors in Civil Engineering. He was a veteran of WWII serving in the US Army Corps of Engineers serving in Holland, France and Germany with the 655th Engineering Topographic Battalion and US Army Map Service and served in the US Army Reserves until June 1960 He was employed by Barkley and Dexter Labs in Fitchburg as geodesist from 1960 to 1969 He founded Berry Engineering in 1971 and served as president until his retirement in 1995 He was a member of the Earth Sciences Technologies Association, America Geophysical Union, American Society of Photogrammetry, American Congress of Surveying and Mapping , National Society of Professional Surveyors. International Geophysical Union Conference Delegate Massachusetts Association of land Surveyors and Civil Engineers, He Civic Associations included the Petersham Board of Assessors, Petersham Board of Registrars, Member of St Peters Parish where he was a lectern for 45 years and Representative to Gardner Deanery. Petersham Democratic and Republican Town committees. and numerous other civic organizations. He was an avid reader and crossword puzzler ; dancer and entertainer of renown in the local minstrel shows, frequently portraying "Lord Petersham" and other assorted characters. He frequently was the grand marshal in the Old Maid's Mile parade in Petersham in recent years. Funeral services will be held Friday, August 26, 2005, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m in St. Peters Church 18 North St., Petersham. Burial will follow in West Road Cemetery. Calling hours will be held Thursday, August 25, 2005, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the J. Edward Murphy Funeral Home 137 Main St., Athol. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in his memory to the St. Peters Building Fund 18 North St., or to the Petersham Band Stand Fund c/o Petersham Town Hall, Petersham, MA 01366. The J. Edward Murphy Funeral Home is directing arrangements. $(document).ready(function(){ });