Canton Obituary: M. Clyde Whirty, 90

Merrill Clyde Whirty, 90, of Canton died January 16, 2016, after a long illness.

He was born in Millinocket, Maine on June 7, 1925 to Vincent and Vera Berry Whirty. He was known to his family and friends as Clyde and was one of 7 children. At the age of 17 he talked his father into allowing him to join the US Navy during World War II. He turned 19 on Omaha Beach during the D-day invasion. He was assigned to the 6th Naval Beach Battalion. He was wounded in action and received the Purple Heart. His Battalion received the Bronze Service Arrowhead, The Croix De Guerre with Palm by the Government of France and the Presidential Unit Citation in 2000 by George W. Bush. Clyde was also interviewed by National Geographic magazine for the 2002 edition of “Untold Stories of D-Day” and also the History Channel for a D-Day special.

After his D-Day service, he was assigned to the USS LaGrange and fought in the Pacific theater. After the war he returned to Maine and attended Ricker Jr. College. He moved to Connecticut and worked for Chandler Evans Corporation of West Hartford for 39 years.

He met and married his former wife Barbara Descault Whirty in 1952. He moved to Canton in 1959 with his family. He volunteered for many town organizations and rose to the rank of Deputy Chief as a member of the Canton Volunteer Fire Company and he coached baseball for all of his sons. He held duel membership in the Masons in Millinocket, Maine and Collinsville. He was also a member of the VFW in Avon.

After retiring he drove a bus for the Avon school system where he had the pleasure of driving his grandchildren. He was an avid Yankee, Celtic, Giants and UConn fan and, of course, was his children’s and grandchildren’s number one fan. He also had great fondness for convertible cars that he owned and were often used in town parades.

He was predeceased by his son David, his brothers Harold and Bryant and his sisters Roberta and Dorothy and his dear companion Ellen Wilbur. He is survived by his sons William of Fort Collins, Colorado and Stephen of Canton, his daughter Diane and her husband David of Canton; and his sisters Elizabeth Budreau and Jean Plourde of Millinocket, Maine. He also leaves behind 9 grandchildren and 7 greatgrandchildren.

The family would like to thank Mary Baptiste and daughter Valerie for their excellent and kind care of Clyde.

His family will receive friends on Wednesday, January 20 from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Carmon Funeral Home and Family Center of Avon, 301 Country Club Rd Avon with Masonic Service at 7:30 PM. A graveside service with military honors will be held at 11 AM Thursday, January 21 at Greenwood Cemetery in Avon.

In lieu of flowers please make memorial donations to McLean Home Care VNA, 75 Great Pond Rd Simsbury, CT 06070.

See more at www.carmonfuneralhome.com.