Paul C. Wilmarth

Paul Wilmarth, 92, of Haverhill, MA, and formerly of Georgetown, Melbourne, FL, and Salem, NH, passed away peacefully on November 20, 2020 at Wingate at Haverhill, surrounded by the love of his family. Paul was born in Georgetown to the late Thomas W. Wilmarth and Gertrude L. Wilmarth. He was a resident of Georgetown until 1990 when he moved to Melbourne, FL. When he returned to this area, he lived in Salem, NH for 10 years until moving to Wingate Residences at Haverhill. He served on a number of local municipal boards including the board of health of which he was an original member as the last member of the old board of welfare, when it was under the jurisdiction of the town until absorbed by the state. His service included many years as a member and several times chairman of the board of registrars. A former member of the Republican town committee, he served as the town’s representative to the Elder Affairs board of the Merrimack Valley. During World War II, he was a member of the Ground Observer Corps and held several citations for his work with the organization. Under the supervision of the board of selectmen, Paul, for a period of time, was responsible for reporting on the quality of water in the town’s ponds and streams. Working with a former state representative, Paul helped pave the way for the establishment of the Georgetown Conservation Commission. Upon his retirement from the group, the commission voted him a lifetime membership.
Acknowledging the need for public elderly housing, Paul joined former Selectman William E Handren, Jr., in providing legislation for the establishment of the Georgetown Housing Authority. In his younger days, he was a troop committeeman for Boy Scout Troop 51 and for several years was a member of the Erie 4 Fire Association. During his service with the fire company, he was a member of its prize winning hose coupling team and also took an active part in the association’s participation in the annual handtub musters that prevailed in the New England area. Paul was a true outdoorsman. As a camper, hunter, & fisherman (landlocked salmon was his favorite), he traveled New England in pursuit of his game. He was one of the first members of the Georgetown Fish and Game Association and took part in the construction of the original clubhouse on Pentucket Pond. Paul retired from the Eagle-Tribune in 1973 due to illness. He started with the newspaper as a paperboy. He later became the newspaper’s Georgetown correspondent when he took over the position upon the death of his father, who had held the post for a number of years. Later, he was named to the staff of the former morning Eagle as a reporter-photographer. During his time with the newspaper, he became an outdoor columnist under the title “Afield with the Sportsman.” An avid family camper, Paul became interested in the Salisbury Beach state camp grounds. He wrote a series of articles based upon the poor
conditions of the area. Because of the series of articles published in the Eagle-Tribune, the then Governor John A. Volpe, and the state legislature provided sufficient funds to rebuild the area making it one of the best camping grounds in New England. A former member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association, he was, at one time, an honorary member of several Greater Lawrence fish and game clubs.
Paul was a member of the Georgetown Kiwanis Club and served as secretary for many years. He was made a life member of Kiwanis International for his work in the organization. Paul and his wife, Gretchen were world travelers. A student of ancient history, their trips took them to such places as Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Israel. They also visited Sri Lanka, India and Nepal where they flew over Mount Everest. They toured the Soviet Union traveling​from St. Petersburg to Lake Baikal in Siberia. One of the highlights for Paul was visiting the tomb of the Tartar conqueror Tamerlane located in the city of Samarkand. Included in their travels were visits to Finland and Denmark. Especially interested in Indian culture, they made several trips to Mexico, Guatemala, and Haiti. Over the years, they traveled throughout Canada and the United States. He was educated in local schools and later graduated with honors from North Shore Community College with an AS in Environmental Public Health Technology.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Gretchen M. Wilmarth with whom he shared over 72 years of marriage and is survived by his children, Gina M. Wilmarth of Bradford, Perry J. Wilmarth and his wife Debra of Meredith, N.H. and Thomas P. Wilmarth and his wife Karin of Georgetown; his grandchildren, Kerrin Randall and her husband Jason, Kyle Wilmarth and his wife, Amanda, and Terence Wilmarth; his
great-grandchildren, Jack and Hallie Randall and Easton Wilmarth; as well as several nieces and nephews. Paul was predeceased by his siblings, Stanley W. Wilmarth and Trudy L. Northey.
 
Private Graveside Services with U.S. Army Honors will be held at the Harmony Cemetery, Georgetown. For those who wish to share a memory with Paul's family, please visit  www.cgfuneralhomegeorgetown.com
The Conte - Giamberardino Funeral Home, 14 Pleasant Street, Georgetown has been entrusted with Paul's care.
 

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