Wilbur W. Hartford

Wilbur Warner Hartford Jr passed away Sunday, January 7th,2024. He was born on December 13,1933 to the late Wilbur Warner Hartford, Sr & Flossie (Corrigan) Hartford. Besides his parents he is predeceased by his wife Gloria who passed away 3 months prior, his sisters, Verne Eastman, Beverly Eastman & his brothers Edward Dorr & Richard Dorr. He is survived by his daughter JoEllen Meehan & her children Katherine Ross & her children Braden & Jacob. Patrick Meehan & wife Jordan & their children Brogan, Gavin & Declan. His son Wayne Hartford & wife Brenda & their children, daughter Jennifer Garner & husband Jason & their children Olivia & Luke, daughter  Christina Layne & husband Brandon  & their children Paisley, Amity, Kapri & Navie, son Nicholas Hartford & wife Juletta & their children Skyler & Amelia, son Jon Hartford & wife Brianna & their children Madyson & Mayson, daughter Rebecca Summers & children Brooklyn & Ashlyn, He also leaves behind 2 favorite nieces Tracy Lang & Toni Farnham, along with other nieces & nephews. Bill, as everyone called him, went to the Fanny Farmer Cooking school after high school.  His first job was in Concord as a baker for Polly Susan Bakery. He then got a job in Belmont working at Hickory Stick Farm as a chef. Around 1963 he met Carl Merril & his daughter Carlene & they convinced him to join them in buying a restaurant. They bought Fernald Hackett's Restaurant from Skip & Lillian Fernald. Unfortunately, Carl died within the year, so Bill ran the restaurant along with Carlene until it was sold in 1979. From there he worked at FMH in Rochester in their coffee shop. In 1985 he was approached to pastor the United Methodist Church in Tuftonboro, NH. They were down to one parishioner & didn't want the church to have to close its doors. He readily accepted the assignment. He went to school to be a lay pastor & the church came back to life under his leadership. He remained their pastor until his retirement in 2008. In retirement he & his wife Gloria took trips to the Holy Land, Korea & Hawaii. Throughout their married life they traveled extensively with the Order of Eastern Star. He was a Patron many times in their home chapter in Rochester, NH & he was a Worthy Grand Patron for NH along with Worthy Grand Matron Robbin Grille. He was also a Freemason at Humane Lodge in Rochester. He will be missed by many, especially his grandchildren who never declined a visit to Mountain View Nursing home in Ossipee to visit & play games & never left without a bag of candy. He cherished these visits. When his wife died in October after the "long goodbye" of 10 years he felt his job was done & he was ready to be with his Lord & reunite with those that passed before him, especially his wife Gloria. A celebration of life service will be held in the spring along with burial in the Summer Street Cemetery in Lancaster, NH.