Richard F. Gilmore, 85, of Haverhill, passed away Wednesday, April 8, at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born in Haverhill, he was the son of the late, James J. and Goldie M. (Eldredge) Gilmore. Raised and educated in Haverhill, he attended Haverhill public schools and was a graduate of Haverhill High school, class of 1947. He spent the next year working in the Haverhill Shoe industry and decided to enlist into the U.S. Air Force. A Korean War Veteran, he proudly served from 1948 until being honorably discharged in 1952. He then continued his education receiving his bachelor’s from Merrimack College in 1956. He would later earn his MBA from Northeastern University in 1970. Gilmore was employed as a corporate controller for the Exeter-Hampton Electric Company and would retire as vice president of finance for Unitil Corporation in 1991. He was a member of the Wilbur Comeau American Legion Post in Haverhill and lifelong parishioner of Sacred Hearts Church. Gilmore enjoyed winters in Florida and summers in Maine with his first wife, Sheila A. (Sullivan). A true history buff, he was involved in the Andover Historical Society and was a member of the New England Historic and Genealogy Society. He was a stamp collector, and enjoyed all local sports and classical music. After losing his wife in 2003 after 45 years of marriage, he would reacquaint with high school classmate, Dorothy A. (Spaulding) and the two were married in 2005.
He leaves his wife, Dorothy A. (Spaulding) Gilmore; children, Richard F. Gilmore and his wife, Linda, of Haverhill, Jean E. Gilmore, of Haverhill, Edward J. “Ted” Gilmore, of Haverhill, Douglas J. Gilmore, of Bradford, Maura Dunigan and her husband, Chris, of Brentwood, N.H., and Elaine S. Gilmore, Md., and her husband, Brian Poligone, of Fairport, N.Y.; step children, Sharon and Barry Washington, of Phoenixville, Penn., Nancy Diamantopoulos and her husband, James, of Dracut, Michael J. Harris, of Haverhill, and Jane Harris-Fale and her husband, Greg, of Bradford. He also leaves a sister, Mary Woelfel, of Haverhill, brothers, William A. Gilmore and his wife, Marguerite, of Bradford, and Robert D. Gilmore, of Spokane, Washington, 11 grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Friends and family are invited to call Sunday afternoon from 2 until 5 p.m. at the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main St. Haverhill. Funeral services begin Monday morning at 9 a.m. from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10 a.m. at Sacred Hearts Church, South Main Street. Bradford. Burial with military honors follow in St. James Cemetery, Primrose Street, Haverhill. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made in Gilmore’s memory to the Opportunity Works Building Fund, 10 Opportunity Way, Newburyport, MA 01950, the Merrimack Valley Hospice House, 360 North Ave. Haverhill, MA 01830, or the charity of your choice.