William Joseph Latvis

Born in Nashua, NH on December 5, 1918, he was the son of Alexander and Agnes (Molis) Latvis. He grew up in Nashua and graduated from Nashua High School in 1937 after which he went to work for Nashua Paper Corporation. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1942 and served in World War II with an aviation squadron in the Marshall Islands. During the war (in which both his brother John and sister Malvina served,) Bill repaired fighter planes and was also provided generator, starter and electrical training. He ultimately was promoted to Master Sergeant in the Marine Corps and was honorably discharged on November 27, 1945. Bill married Helen Edna Williamson on September 20, 1942 in Jacksonville, Florida, and they had their first and only child, William Jr., on June 16, 1944.

After his discharge from the service, Bill went to work for New England Telephone Company and Nynex. He rose from the position of lineman to control foreman, then to regional supervisor. He retired in 1982 after a 39-year career with the Company. While working full time, he used the skills that he had been developing since he was a young boy to build his own home at 17 Hooker Street. Bill and Helen also supervised construction of a second home in Boynton Beach. They spent winters there starting in 1984, then moved there permanently in 1997.

Bill was known for his outgoing, cheerful personality. He was also the snappiest of dressers; people rarely encountered him without a sports jacket and tie. Bill loved holiday celebrations, particularly those with a patriotic focus. He shared an especially close bond with his brother John who, although younger than Bill, served as a life-long role model. Both John and his wife Maida were especially attentive to Bill in his later years. There was no question that Bill was fully devoted to all members of his family, however; he believed that “Affection is the broadest base of a good life.”

Bill is predeceased by his parents, Alexander and Agnes; his wife Helen; his sister Agnes Wallace; and his brothers-in-law, Roger Wallace and John Mogan. He is survived by his son William and his wife Catherine (Cyr) Latvis of Yarmouth, ME; his grandson Peter John Latvis and his wife Winifred Sanchez of Natick, MA; his granddaughter, Andrea Caryn Latvis and her husband David Poses of Cold Spring, NY; his great grandchildren, Ruby Grace Poses, Henry Alexander Latvis and Samuel Herbert Poses; his sister Malvina Mogan of Ankeny, Iowa; his brother John William Latvis and his wife Maida (Baumgarten) Latvis of Nashua; his many nieces and nephews; and a myriad of special friends who enriched his life.

Visiting hours will be held from 9:00 am to 11:00 am on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at the Zis-Sweeney Funeral Home, 26 Kinsley St., Nashua. A funeral service will follow at 11:00am in the funeral home on Wednesday. Interment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, Hudson, NH. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice. Condolences may be offered at www.zissweeneyfuneralhome.com