Wesley B. Crooker

Wesley Bennett Crooker, 93, of Milford, NH, died on September 19, 2017 at the home of his daughter, Tammy Lunderville, in Milford. Tammy and her husband, Roland did wonderful work providing a home for him in the final years of his life. He was born in Milford on April 21, 1924, the son of Frank and Jeanne (Smith) Crooker. He graduated from Milford High School in 1942. Following graduation he worked on a wheat ranch in Florence, Montana prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Army. As a member of the 150th Combat Engineers he saw two years of action in the European Theatre which included many assault river crossings and the Battle of the Bulge. Wes was employed for most of his career as a plumber and oil burner technician. Many of those years were spent with Draper Fuel Company of Wilton as well as several years as owner of Crooker and Son with his son, Dennis. He was a devoted family man who spent a vast amount of his spare time watching his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren participating in youth sports. He was also a follower of professional sports, particularly Boston teams. An avid camper, he purchased land in Vermont in 1977 that developed into a family gathering place for several generations of his family. He will be remembered by friends and family alike for his simple tastes. He loved family gatherings, mowing his fields in Vermont, country music and the Red Sox and Celtics, in that order. He was able to continue his activities in Vermont in his later years traveling and staying at his son Martin’s cabin on the property well into his 90’s. He also spent many happy years following his time in the service at Sunset Lake in Greenfield, NH. Wes was a member of Bent-Burke Post 10 in Wilton, NH and greatly enjoyed taking part in the events at the Post. His numerous examples of kindness and determination will be remembered fondly by his family and friends for years to come. He was predeceased by his wife, Lillian (Elliott) Crooker, a sister, Nancy Stickney and a brother, Robert Crooker. Family members include four sons and daughters-in-law, Dennis W. and Darlene Crooker of Greer, SC, Gary S. and Melissa Crooker of Wilton, NH, Dana and Anne Crooker of Memphis, TN, Martin and Caroline Crooker of Lyndeborough, NH; a daughter and son-in-law, Tammy and Roland Lunderville of Milford; 17 grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren. Memorial visiting hours are on Sunday, September 24th from 4:00-8:00pm in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford. A memorial service will be held on Monday, September 25th at 11:00am in the Second Congregational Church, UCC, 25 Gregg Street, Wilton, NH. Burial with military honors will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Milford. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to St. Joseph Community Services, Inc., Meals on Wheels, 395 D.W. Highway, P.O. Box 910, Merrimack, NH 03054 or Special Olympics New Hampshire, 6550 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03101-2508.