William LaVergne

STURBRIDGE/WEBSTER:   William LaVergne, 87, of Sturbridge, died peacefully on Tuesday, June 22 at Webster Manor, Webster after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. 

            He was born May 23, 1923 in Worcester MA, the son of William P. and Lois (Bolshaw) LaVergne Baker.  He lived most of his life in Sturbridge with the last 4 years being in Webster.  He was educated in Sturbridge schools and attended Cole Trade High School in Southbridge. A WWII veteran of the U.S. Navy, Bill served as a gunners mate, third class on the battleship U.S.S. New York.  During the Okinawa campaign, the ship underwent 78 days of continuous bombardment, firing 11,000 rounds at island targets before the first landings were made. Bill retired in 1984 after 28 years of service with Exxon-Mobil Oil Corp as a truck driver and diesel mechanic.  During his years at Mobil, he was elected to President, New England Local #8766 of the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers International Union.  He was a member of Sturbridge Federated Church; Sturbridge (Champeau-Vilandre) American Legion Post 109; Southbridge VFW Leonide J. Lemire Post 6055; and Masonic Quinebaug Lodge A.F. & A.M. Southbridge.

Bill loved the outdoors, enjoying hunting and fishing, and walks in the woods.  He loved the challenge of working on old cars and trucks.  He was known and loved for his quick wit and easygoing nature. In the 1960s he started an annual family 4^th of July New England clambake which became an enduring family tradition.  Later, the clambake  was carried on by his son on Webster Lake.  The clambake tradition still continues at his daughter’s home in NH.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Louise (McDonald) LaVergne; a son, Jeffrey LaVergne and his wife, Mary of Webster; a daughter, Lynne (LaVergne) Martel and her husband, C. James of Enfield, NH; three grandchildren, Patricia Donnelly and her husband, Michael of Charles Town WV; Bethany Tobias and her husband, Sandro of Holliston MA; and John Rapp and his wife, Nancy of Wallkill NY; seven great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by three siblings, Ellwood and Warren LaVergne; and Lucille Abston.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00AM, Monday June 28^th,  in Belanger-Bullard Funeral Home, 51 Marcy St, Southbridge.  Interment will follow at North Cemetery, Maple St, Sturbridge.  Visiting hours will be 9:30 to 11:00AM, prior to the service in the funeral home.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill’s memory to Michael Stern Parkinson\'s Research Foundation, 1115 Broadway, Suite 1200, New York, NY 10010                  

An online guestbook and a video tribute are available at www.BelangerFuneralHome.com  

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to The Federated Church for their many visits and cards, and to Brookhaven Hospice and the caregivers at Webster Manor for their many acts of kindness and compassion during his stay.

Please click on the link below to view video

 http://memorial.yourtribute.com/williamlavergne/