Wilbur Hartford Jr. ... worked at FMH coffee shop; at 90

Wilbur Warner Hartford Jr. died on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. He was born on Dec. 13,1933, to Wilbur Warner Hartford, Sr and Flossie (Corrigan) Hartford. Besides his parents he is predeceased by his wife Gloria, who passed away three months prior, his sisters, Verne Eastman, Beverly Eastman and his brothers Edward Dorr and Richard Dorr.

He is survived by his daughter JoEllen Meehan and her children Katherine Ross and her children Braden and Jacob. Patrick Meehan and wife Jordan and their children Brogan, Gavin and Declan. His son Wayne Hartford and wife Brenda and their children, daughter Jennifer Garner and husband Jason and their children Olivia and Luke, daughter Christina Layne and husband Brandon and their children Paisley, Amity, Kapri and Navie, son Nicholas Hartford and wife Juletta and their children Skyler and Amelia, son Jon Hartford and wife Brianna and their children Madyson and Mayson, daughter Rebecca Summers and children Brooklyn and Ashlyn, He also leaves behind 2 favorite nieces Tracy Lang and 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 and his daughter Carlene & they convinced him to join them in buying a restaurant. They bought Fernald Hackett's Restaurant from Skip and 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. They were down to one parishioner and 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 and the church came back to life under his leadership. He remained their pastor until his retirement in 2008.

In retirement he and his wife Gloria took trips to the Holy Land, Korea and 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 and 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 and play games and 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 and he was ready to be with his Lord and reunite with those that passed before him, especially his wife Gloria.