Obituaries

James W. Gilman

WESTFIELD: flagJames Wilbur Gilman died Sunday, March 1, 2015 in Westfield, MA surrounded by loved ones. Son of John and Amelia Gilman, he was born in Pepperell, MA March 23, 1920 where he graduated from high school in 1938. He enrolled at Massachusetts State College in Amherst, MA where he played football, was Cadet Colonel of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and took his BS degree in Chemistry in 1942. He married Harriet Kelso of Chester, MA February 27, 1943 and they had two sons, James and Lee.

Jim was commissioned Second Lieutenant U.S. Army, Cavalry, and reported for duty at Fort Riley, KS where he graduated from the Cavalry Officers’ Basic Course. During WWII he was assigned to the 16th Cavalry Group for the Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns. In November 1945, he was recruited to be Executive Officer, 3rd Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment and provided all necessary military and logistic support for the Nuremburg War Crimes Trials. During his 26 year Army career he served four tours of duty as a general staff officer in Logistics in the Pentagon, including assignment as South Asia specialist in government affairs for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Jim commanded the 33rd Tank Battalion, 3rd Armored Division in Gelnhausen, Germany, was Deputy Commander of the Cam Rahn Bay Support Command in Vietnam, and was Deputy Commander of the Sentinel Anti-ballistic Missile Command in Huntsville, AL. He was a graduate of the Armored School Advanced Course, Fort Knox, KY, the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort McNair, Washington, DC. Jim earned an MBA degree from George Washington University concurrent with attending the Industrial College. Upon retiring from the Army at the rank of Colonel in 1968, he taught intermediate science in Fairfax County, VA schools for six years. In 1974, Jim and Harriet returned to Kelso Homestead Farm in Chester where he planted a blueberry orchard. He greatly enjoyed watching his blueberry dreams flourish. Active in town and community affairs, Jim was elected as a selectman for three years. As a member of First Congregational Church of Chester, he served as deacon, treasurer, moderator and trustee. Jim is survived by Harriet, the love of his life for over 72 years; son James and wife Betsy (Albuquerque, NM), son Lee and wife Bev (Charlotte, NC); grandchildren Chad and wife Laurie (Denver, CO), Connor and wife Char (Denver, CO), Adam (Denver, CO), Annie and husband Matthew Luis (Odessa, TX), Seth (Albuquerque, NM), Michelle and husband Jason Cohen (Oak Park, IL), Jackson and wife Amanda (Memphis, TN); and great grandchildren Jonah, Ben, Grant, and Emmett.Interment of ashes with full military honors will be followed by a memorial service at First Congregational Church of Chester on June 6, 2015. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts in memory of Jim be made to First Congregational Church of Chester, 334 Skyline Trail, Chester, MA 01011 or to a charity of your choice. firtionadams.com

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