William L. Linehan, 85, a lifelong resident of Haverhill and retired Haverhill firefighter, passed away peacefully with his family by his side at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill.
Born in Haverhill, he was the son of the late, Patrick J. and Mary Ellen (Cash) Linehan. Raised in the “Acre” section of Haverhill, he attended St. James Grammar School and St. James High School.
A Veteran of the Korean War, Linehan proudly served his country from 1951 until being honorably discharged in 1953 from the U.S. Army. As service to his country concluded, Linehan began a long career of service to his beloved city. In 1956 he became a Haverhill Firefighter and would serve the people of Haverhill for the next thirty-five years, retiring in 1991.
Linehan held memberships with the AMVETS Post 147, VFW Lorraine Post 29, the Liberty Club and the Crescent Yacht Club. In his spare time he enjoyed many a round of golf at Crystal Springs with friends.
The Widower of Eleanor B. (Villetta) Linehan who died in 2001, he leaves his loving family, a son, William D. Linehan, of Pompano Beach, Fla., a daughter, Cheryl A. Pipitone and her husband, Rick, of Derry, N.H., cherished granddaughters, Jennifer M. Sinitski and her husband, Eric, and Katie Lee Pipitone, sisters, Ann E. Drelick and her husband, Allen, of Haverhill, and Margaret M. Joubert and her husband, Leo A., and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his siblings, John J. Linehan, Lillian M. Downey, Catherine E. Berry, Mary E. Linehan, Patrick F. Linehan, and Joseph W. Linehan.
Friends and family are respectfully invited to call on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main St. (route125) Haverhill. Funeral services will begin on Monday morning at 9 from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10: at St. John the Baptist Church, Lincoln Ave. Haverhill. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery, Primrose St. Haverhill with Military and Firefighter Honors. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105. Please visit Comeau funeral Home on Facebook, or www.comeaufuneral.com.