Wilfred A. Biron

He was born in Manchester on May 23, 1926 and was the son of Wilfred N. and Marie F. (Gagnon) Biron. He attended Central High School and was a lifelong resident of Manchester.

During World War II he served in the US Navy and was the last known survivor of the Underwater Demolition Team #7. He later served in the US Marine Corps.

Mr. Biron worked as an electronic technician at GTE Sylvania in Manchester for many years. He dedicated his career to the development of electrical test equipment for various lighting products with a focus on new product development.

He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the VFW Post 8214, the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 1 and the American Legion Henry J. Sweeney Post #2.

He was married to Grace A. (Butler) Biron who died in 1999.

IN HIS LIFE: In the summer and fall of 1944 as a frogman with the Navy Underwater Demolition Teams 7, 11 and 5 he participated in amphibious landings at Saipan, Pelelieu, Tinian, Tsugen, Shima and Okinawa. From there his team was deployed to Maui in 1945 to train incoming frogmen. During World War II there were 30 teams and 3,500 frogmen. Precious few of these heroes remain today.

After the war he returned to Manchester and married his beloved Grace Butler. They bought their first home in the same neighborhood where he and his five brothers and two sisters were born.

He had a true passion for new technology and figuring out, on his own, how to put it to use. This included radios and TV's, to photography, calculators and computers. If he didn't have the means to do something, he created the means. If he didn't have the time, he stayed up late. Whatever it took, he succeeded at getting things done.

When he lost his wife, his one and only true "boss", he needed no direction. He always chose his own path and stuck to it to the very end. He will be missed by those who knew him and remembered as a hero to all.

The family includes six children, Donna Williams, William Biron and his wife, Roberta, and Dorothy Alexander and her husband, Brian all of Manchester, Bernard Biron and his fiance, Marie Gage of Northwood, Wilfred A. Biron III and his wife, Jacqueline of Manchester and Betty Ann Cormier and her husband, David of Rochester; 15 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren; three brothers, Victor Biron and Bertrand Biron both of Manchester and Ronald Biron of Pinardville; two sisters, Viola Gookin and Yvette Savoie both of Manchester; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by two brothers, Adrien Biron and Raymond Biron.

A graveside committal service with military honors was held Thursday, October 23, 2008 at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 718 Smyth Rd., Manchester, NH 03104, ATTN: Transportation Department