Obituary of Richard F. Potter

Richard F. Potter, 93 of Woodstock, CT, went to be with his Lord and Savior Tuesday, December 25, 2012 at the Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam. He was the husband of 70 years to Gwendolyn (Withers) Potter. He was born April 22, 1919 in Worcester, MA son of the late Arthur and Grace (Pierce) Potter. Richard served four years with the US Army 43rd Infantry Division in the Pacific Theater during WWII and served six months in Germany during the Korean War. As a member of the Connecticut National Guard, he served as a Chief Warrant Officer (CW2) with the 43rd Infantry Division, Middletown, West Haven and Manchester He retired in 1979 as Chief Warrant Officer (CW4) after a 41 year Military Career with the US Army and the Connecticut National Guard. He was a member of the Putnam Masonic Lodge No. 46 AF & AM, he served as Secretary for many years, Woodstock American Legion Post 111, served as Commander and Historian. He was an avid stamp collector, a member of the Webster-Dudley Stamp Club. He was active for many years with the Woodstock Historical Society, Winston Churchill - Finest Hour, American Philatelic Society (APS), Panama Canal Zone Study Group; Connecticut Postal History Society; Isthmus Collector's Club, Sons of the American Revolution, Israel Putnam Branch 4, S.A.R., Woodstock Theft Detecting Society; Gov. Wm "Leete Legacy" US Possessions Philatelic Society, Harper's Weekly. He leaves in addition to his wife Gwendolyn; his children Richard Potter of Cromwell, Dennis Potter of Woodstock, Patricia (Clair) Sarasin and her husband Ken of Woodstock; Susan Norris and her husband Scott of Enfield, his grandchildren Elizabeth Norris; Lauren Norris; Cassandra Clair; Sharie Potter; Paula Potter, great grandson Maddox Roy and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his grandson James Clair, his daughter-in-law Judith Potter; his siblings: Charlotte, Evelyn, James, Charles, Arthur, Harris and Alice. Funeral Service Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 11:00 AM at the Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove Street, Putnam, CT. Calling Hours Friday, December 28, 2012 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. Burial with Military Honors in Central Cemetery, Woodstock. In lieu of flowers donations in his memory to American Legion , PO Box 111, Woodstock, CT 06281 or Putnam Masonic Lodge No. 46, PO Box 46, S. Woodstock, CT 06267. To share a memory with his family, "Light a Candle" at www.smithandwalkerfh.com