Homer W. Kershner

Waltham – Mr. Homer W. Kershner, Jr., of Waltham, died Monday, January 16, 2017 at his home. He was 90.

Homer was born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan on October 2, 1926, the only child of the late Vaneta P. (Sheridan) and Homer W. Kershner, Sr. As a youngster his family moved to Portland, Maine. Shortly after he graduated from Deering High School in Portland their final move brought them to Waltham.

On July 13, 1952 Homer married Waltham native Joan M. Healey in Saint Mary's Church and the pair made Waltham their lifelong home. They'd met while both worked at the Waltham Grinding Wheel Company and married while Homer was serving with the United States Air Force during the Korean War.

Joan and Homer enjoyed fifty-eight great years together before her death on August 7, 2010.

A talented and knowledgeable mechanic he worked for thirty-four years for Toledo Scale Company in Brighton, Woburn and in Canton. Homer was a freemason and a life member of Bethesda Lodge in Watertown. He also belonged to the Joseph F. Hill American Legion Post No. 156 in Waltham.

At home he enjoyed life's simple gifts . . . Homer was an expert gardener whose roses and tomatoes were second to none. He and Joan enjoyed taking the family on trips to the Cape in the family wagon and he enjoyed watching football and baseball. Homer was an avid reader all his life and when his eyesight began to fail him he relied on audio books from the Perkins School to be able to continue his love of story-telling.

He leaves his children, Robert W. Kershner and his wife, JoAnn, of Holbrook, Gale M. Schribman of Waltham, Susan E. Wilkins of Bedford, Thomas W. Kershner, Karl G. Kershner and Diane M. Kershner, all of Waltham; his sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Allen Senarian of Waltham; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Homer was also a brother-in-law of the late Helen and Bernard 'John' Neville.

Family and friends will honor and remember Homer's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Sunday, January 22nd from 2 to 4 p.m. and again on Monday morning when his funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to Perkins School for the Blind, 175 N. Beacon Street, Watertown, MA 02472.