Bertrand Spooner

DANBURY -- Bertrand L. Spooner Jr., 86, of Old Turnpike Road, died Jan. 11, 2011, at home after a brief illness. He was born in West Greenwich, R.I., and grew up in Loudon. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on Dec. 7, 1942, and served during World War II, serving in the Asian-Pacific theater. After 17 years he transferred to the Department of the Navy at Quonset Point, R.I., and was EMA supervisor and project planner with the Data Processing Department. He retired in 1972 and moved to Northfield, where he owned an antiques shop and enjoyed growing vegetable gardens. He also owned an antique books shop in Danbury. He was a writer and his articles were published in the Marine Corps Follow Me and Leatherneck magazines. He also wrote stories that he planned on publishing as a children's book. He is predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Virginia I. Spooner and his daughter, Cynthia Carter of Northfield. IN HIS LIFE: Family members include his children, Leigh Spooner and his wife, Linda; Sandra Cherry and her husband, Joseph; Daniel Spooner Sr. and his wife, Margaret; Susan Dore and her husband, Steve; Sharon Mauser and her husband, David; James Spooner Sr. and his wife, Donna and Bertrand Spooner III and his wife, Pennie; fifteen grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, as well as many other medals. His was a sergeant in the 2nd Marine Division and participated in the battles of Tarawa, Tinian, Saipan and Okinawa, as a rifleman and machine gunner. He also participated in the occupation of Nagasaki and was honorably discharged on Dec. 6, 1945. He was a lifetime member of the Marine Corps 2nd Marine Division National Chapter, the Mid-Atlantic Chapter and the New England Chapter, as well as the Disabled American Veterans Association, U.S. Naval Institute, VFW, and the Marine Corps Historical Foundation. He was also a member of the Pittsfield Historical Society and Loudon Historical Society. After returning from the war he married Virginia I. Bennett and worked for the federal government with the Veterans Administration Regional Office in Providence, R.I., as the chief of receipt and dispatch unit as well as mail section and chief of data processing. He was most proud of his family and his Marine Corps affiliations and was a caring and giving person. SERVICES: Calling hours are 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Paquette-Neun Funeral Home 104 Park St., Northfiled. His funeral services will be noon Saturday at St. Stephen Episcopal Church, 50 Main St., Pittsfield. Burial will be in Floral Park Cemetery in the spring with a full military honor service. For directions and an online guestbook, visit www.neunfuneralhomes.com .