Former North Reading firefighter

Published in the December 17, 2015 edition

William-Schumaker-Obit-webGARDINER, Maine — William C. Schumaker, 81, of Gardiner, Maine and formerly of North Reading, died unexpectedly at his home on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015.

Born in Chelsea on April 3, 1934, he was the son of the late Laurence and Agnes (Murphy) Schumaker. He was a graduate of Reading Memorial High School. Bill was a North Reading Firefighter for 20 years, retiring in 1991. Bill was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Korean Conflict. He was a Corporal and served from 1954 to 1956.

He was a former resident of North Reading for 64 years. Bill was a member of the Firefighter’s Local 1857 and a former member of the North Reading Loyal Order of Moose.

He had been a resident Gardiner, Maine for the past 13 years and member of St. Michael Church.

He loved life, his family and Bottle Lake. He enjoyed playing cribbage or any card games. Bill loved traveling around the country, hunting with his buddies, lunching with his friends, listening to his books and going to the casinos.

Family members include his loving wife of 58 years, Carol A. (Caldwell) Schumaker; his sons, Karl Schumaker of North Reading and Kurt Schumaker and his wife Kris of South Carolina; his daughter, Ann Allen and her husband Eric of Chelmsford; brothers, Lawrence Schumaker of Florida and John “Barry” Schumaker of New Hampshire; sisters, Susan Lindkuist of Maine, Nancy Schachter of Kentucky and Johanne Paula of Nahant. He is also survived by three grandchildren.

His funeral was held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow St., North Reading on Tuesday, Dec. 15, followed by a funeral Mass at St. Theresa Church, 63 Winter St., North Reading. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to North Reading Firefighter’s Relief Association, 152 Park St., North Reading MA 01864. www.croswellfuneralhome.com.