Leo F. Wiltshire

Mr. Leo F. Wiltshire, 83, of Danvers and Surprise, AZ died Wednesday at home after a lengthy illness. He was the beloved husband of Katherine “Kay” (Hurley) Wiltshire with whom he shared 53 years of marriage; he and Kay were married in St. Pius V Church in Lynn.

Leo was born in Lynn. He was the son of the late John and Vera (Monck) Wiltshire. He was a lifelong resident of Swampscott until moving to Surprise, Arizona in 2000. He was a graduate of St. John the Evangelist School and attended St. Mary’s High School. Leo received his diploma from Swampscott High School, Class of 1948.

Leo worked for the United States Postal Service in Swampscott as a letter carrier for 26 years before retiring in 1993. He was known by many as “Leo the Mailman”. After retiring, he was a school crossing guard for the Lynn Police Department where he enjoyed keeping the children safe. He crossed children at Lewis St. and Lafayette Park and Western Ave. and Bay View Ave. He previously worked in the meat department of the former First National Store in Wyoma Square.

Leo enlisted with the United States Coast Guard on his 17th birthday near the end of WWII. He served aboard the Wachusett near Attu with a base in Juneau, AK and held the rank of Seaman First Class. He was recalled into the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict and served aboard the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. WASP CV-18, where he was a Plankowner. Leo was proud to serve and was always ready with a handshake for anyone in military uniform.

Leo was a lifetime member of the National Assoc. of Letter Carriers, Branch 7, Lynn. He was a former longtime communicant of St. John the Evangelist Church in Swampscott before moving to Arizona. He was a former member of the VFW Post 1240 Swampscott, Knights of Columbus in Swampscott, the Swampscott Club, the USS WASP Veterans Association and the Gerry 5 in Marblehead. Leo and Kay enjoyed traveling to many State and National Parks, Eastern and Western Canada and cruised the Panama Canal, Alaska and Hawaii. Leo also enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and working in his garden.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by 2 sons, Leo F. Wiltshire, Jr. and his wife Eileen of Virginia Beach and Joseph M. Wiltshire and his wife Jacqueline of Rockville, MD, 1 daughter, Margaret “Peggy” A. Dorson and her fiancé Ray Abbott, of Peterborough, NH, 4 sisters, Paula Sentipal of Annandale, VA, Sheila Forrest of Lynn, Vera Cragin of Tacoma, WA and Ella Mailloux of Revere. Leo is also survived by his 4 Grandchildren, Amy Powell and her husband Michael, Arielle Dorson, Christina and Sydney Wiltshire.

Leo’s Funeral will be from the Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home, 157 Maple St., Lynn, Saturday at 9:00 a.m. Funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church, Swampscott at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours Friday 3-7 PM. Interment in Swampscott Cemetery. Gifts in Leo’s memory may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund, 60 Walnut Street, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481.