William Oliver Sr., 87, had served in Navy

William "Bill" George Oliver Sr., of Wolcott, husband of Dolores "Dee" (Goguen) (Burns) Oliver, died Jan. 29, 2012, one day after his 87th birthday.

He was born Jan. 28, 1925, to the late Julia (Commindinger) and William Oliver in Brooklyn, N.Y. He was a resident of Wolcott for more than 40 years.

Mr. Oliver graduated from a two-room schoolhouse in Wolcott, attended Wilby High School in Waterbury and became an apprentice tool and dye maker at the Waterbury Clock Company.

In 1943, at 17, he joined the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific Theatre on Saipan and was on Tinian Island when the Enola Gay left to drop the first atomic bomb on Japan. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

Upon his return, Mr. Oliver worked at Timex Corp., where he received his tool and dye trade diploma.

He worked as a manufacturing engineer for Pratt and Whitney in North Haven for 28 years.

Mr. Oliver was an avid golfer and duckpin bowler and won several trophies for horseshoes and pool.

In the early 1950s, he was a member of the Wolcott Rams football team.

Mr. Oliver was a former member of the Wolcott Sewer and Water Commission, the Wolcott Democratic Town Committee, and was on the Tyrell School Building Committee.

He was active in Little League and Boy Scouts.

Mr. Oliver was a life member and past commander of the American Legion Post #165 in Wolcott and a member of the VFW Post #1979 in Wolcott.

He was also a charter member of the Brooklyn Valley Post VFW.

Mr. Oliver is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Debra and Vin Giannetto,, of Watertown, and Barbara and Carmine Solla of Wolcott; a son, William Oliver, and his wife, Sue, of Phoenix, Ariz.; two stepdaughters, Kathleen Slivka, of New Milford, and Kristine, and her husband, Larry Hazzard, of Hinsdale, Mass.; and three stepsons, Kevin Burns, of Denver, Colo., Kyle Burns, of Aurora, Colo., and Kerry Burns, of Breckenridge, Colo.; 11 grandchildren, including Stephanie, Kristie and Jessica Giannetto, Becky Scott, and her husband, Prentiss, Adriana and Aubrey Solla, and Aaron, Jeremy, Joshua, Tyson and Amber Oliver; six great-grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren, Sarah Hazzard, of Orlando, Fla., Matt Hazzard, and his wife, Megan, of Richmond, Va., Julie Slivka, of New Milford, and Lily Burns of Breckenridge; two sisters, Gert Brown, of Wolcott, Eleanor Maiolo, and her husband, Frank, of Sorrento, Fla.; and a brother, Walter Oliver, of Torrington. He was predeceased by a son, Dennis.

Della Vecchia Funeral Home in Wolcott was in charge of arrangements.

Burial with full military honors will be held today (Friday) at 10 a.m. in Edgewood Cemetery, Boundline Road, Wolcott.

Memorials may be made to Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, CT 06405.