William Gatley Hooper, Jr.

PEABODY - William “Bill” G. Hooper, Jr, age 98, a longtime resident of Wilmington, MA, and recently of Brooksby Village in Peabody, passed away on Monday, April 15th, 2024.  

He was born in Portland, Maine to the late William G. Hooper and Margaret (Ahlers) Hooper.  He was the beloved husband of Barbara (Cheeseman) Hooper, with whom he shared 70 years of marriage.

After graduating from Winthrop High School in 1943 at age 17, Bill joined the U. S. Merchant Marine because the Navy had turned him down since his eyesight didn’t pass their test.  He served as Chief Radio Officer on several different ships in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean areas during World War II.  He had the good fortune of having his ship sail into New York Harbor on VE Day, and later into Boston Harbor on VJ Day. 

After the war Bill attended Northeastern University from which he received his BS degree in Mathematics and Physics in 1952.  He later received his MBA in Management by attending evenings, also from Northeastern.

Upon receipt of his BS, Bill worked as a Senior Engineer at Sylvania Electric in their Semiconductor Division for over 19 years.  After the plant closed in Woburn, he went to work as a General Manager for Approved Rubber in Winthrop, MA.

Bill met his wife-to-be while Christmas caroling with a group from the Winthrop Methodist Church. They were married in 1952 and eventually moved to Wilmington, where they lived for 52 years. They enjoyed many activities together, such as playing Bridge with friends, going to monthly dances, and camping and canoeing with family and friends. Upon retirement they travelled to many countries in Europe and also pulled their trailer to Florida for six weeks every winter.  They moved to Brooksby Village in 2008 and have very much enjoyed living there in a maintenance-free environment.

Bill enjoyed doing things with his 2 sons. He coached their Little League teams and was Scout Master for Troop #56 in Wilmington for three years while they were in scouting. He later continued on as a Merit Badge Counselor and a member of the Troop Committee.

While living in Wilmington, Bill was an active citizen, serving as a member of the Conservation Committee for 3 years, followed by the Planning Board for 26 years.  After “retiring” from the Planning Board he served as a volunteer in the Planning/Conservation Office for several years. 

Bill also enjoyed doing “hands-on” work with Habitat for Humanity and helped build houses in Lowell, Reading and Woburn over a 12-year period.

North Shore Music Theater was a source of much enjoyment – both Bill and his wife volunteered as ushers there for 11 years until a fire closed it down.

As a result of Bill’s service as a radio operator during the war, it was a natural move for him to become a licensed civilian Ham radio operator.  His call letters were W1QEC and he spent many hours talking to fellow operators during his morning commute.  When he moved to Brooksby Village he wasted no time in joining the radio club there, the Brooksby Radio Amateurs Group (BRAG).

In 2004, both he and his wife were selected to be Wilmington’s “Good Guys” for that year.  This event is designed to honor that person (non-political), male or female, who goes beyond the normal call of duty to make the community a better place in which to live.

In 2008, Bill and his wife moved to Brooksby Village. Bill’s volunteer spirit was still present, as he joined the VIPS (Volunteer in Police Services) at the Peabody Police Station, where he later was awarded a certificate for over 300 hours of service. 

In addition to his beloved wife Barbara, Bill is survived by his 3 children: David and his wife Janet of Pocasset, MA, Matthew of Rivervale, NJ, and Nancy Cahill and her husband Bill of Wakefield, MA, as well as 7 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

ARRANGEMENTS: Burial will be at the Massachusetts National Veterans Cemetery in Bourne, MA, with a celebration of Bill’s life at the Brooksby Village Chapel, Brooksby Village Drive, Peabody, on Saturday, May 18th at 1 P.M. Assisting the family with arrangements is O’Donnell Cremations - Funerals - Celebrations, 167 Maple St, (rte. 62), DANVERS, MA.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Brooksby Village Care Fund, Philanthropy Office, 200 Brooksby Village Dr., Peabody MA 01960.  To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com.

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