Obituary: Richard Webber, Retired Janitor

Richard "Red" Webber
Richard "Red" Webber

Richard D. “Red” Webber of Montague, a longtime janitor, died on Aug. 23, his 91st birthday.

Born in Gill in 1927, he attended local schools in Gill and Montague and was a graduate of Turners Falls High School, Class of 1945. During his high school years he was a star athlete in football, baseball, track and basketball.

He served in the Navy from 1945 to 1948 on the USS Butte, which was involved in the atomic bomb testing at Bikini Island.

He joined UMass Amherst in 1970. After several months in the customer service section of the Physical Plant, he transferred to Residential Life, where he worked until retiring in 1989.

He leaves his wife of 67 years, Pearl (Gamache) Webber, and two daughters, Kathryn Webber (Mark) and Debra Little (John), all of Turners Falls.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Regional Dog Shelter, 10 Sandy Lane, Turners Falls 01376.