Roger W. Pop"" Wishart

Roger W. ""Pop"" Wishart, 93, of Niantic and Wethersfield, beloved husband of the late Dorothea (Dessell) Wishart, passed away peacefully on Sunday (January 12, 2014) surrounded by his loving family. Born in Hartford on June 21, 1920, he was the son of the late Gilbert E. Wishart and Olive Gates Smith Wishart. He was a proud WWII veteran of the U.S. Navy. Roger lived most of his life in Wethersfield and Niantic and had a long and distinguished career in public service. He retired from the Wethersfield Police Department after 30 years with the rank of Sergeant and was also a longtime member of the Wethersfield Fire Department. He was a member of the Masons for more than 65 years, with the Hospitality Lodge No. 128 in Wethersfield and the Bay View Lodge No. 120 in Niantic, as well as serving as Potentate with the Shriners. An avid outdoorsman, he loved being on the water, whether boating, fishing or lobstering. Pop always loved parties or just sitting and having chats with family and his many dear friends. He was very proud of maintaining his annual pistol qualification, even as recently as this past fall. A loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather, his memory will be forever cherished by his two daughters, Arlene Hanson and her husband Bruce of Wethersfield and Barbara Wishart of Stuart, FL; seven adored grandchildren, Lisa Leonard of Wethersfield, David Hanson of Marlborough, Todd Hanson of Northport, ME, Heather Ingram of East Greenwich, RI, Raymond Kamienski of Voluntown, Laura Kamienski of Griswold and Andrew Kamienski of Newington; 14 cherished great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren and his dear friend, Helen Dey of Niantic. Roger was predeceased by his great-grandson. The funeral service will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at the First Church of Christ, 250 Main St., Wethersfield. Everyone is asked to please go directly to the church. Burial with military honors will follow in Village Cemetery, Wethersfield. The family will receive relatives and friends on Friday from 4-7 p.m. at the James T. Pratt Funeral Service, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. Donations in Roger's memory may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104-2396. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopo.com.