Wilmer "Will" Tarver

Mr. Wilmer E. Tarver, of Wayland, died Tuesday, December 20, 2011 in The Miriam Boyd Parlin Hospice Residence. He was 88.

Will was born on December 7, 1923 in Pioneer, Louisiana, son of the late Winnie (McCartney) Tarver Thomas. Raised and educated in Pioneer, he later joined the United States Navy. He met his wife Wanda C. "Wendy" Petrovich while on shore leave in Boston. Wendy proved to be a fortuitous, last minute fill-in to complete a double-date with a shipmate; after an honorable discharge, Will and Wendy were married in 1945. They lived on Calvary Street in Waltham for eight years, playing big brother and sister to Wendy's beloved sisters Sally, Patty and Joanie. On a handshake loan, they purchased property in Wayland on Glezen Lane. Working nights and weekends over the course of a year, Will and Wendy built the house where they raised their family and lived out their lives together.

Will worked as a pipefitter for The Limbach Corporation in Boston for over 30 years, and retired in 1989. Whether it was running the John Hancock job in the 70's, welding mower parts in a retirement job at the Pinebrook Country Club in Weston in the 90's, or devising ingenious ways to feed the wild birds (but not the alpha squirrels) of North Wayland, Will always had a new project in his mind and on his workbench.

Affable and friendly by nature, Will defined what it means to be a family man. Wendy always described him as a "diamond in the rough"; he was dedicated to providing for his family and most of all, to his wife, for whom he cared tenderly until his very last breath. He lived by the motto on the bumper sticker that adorned his 1978 Ford F150: "Use it up…wear it out…make it do…or do without."

In addition to Wendy, Patty and Sally, he leaves his children, Susan Tarver of Saco ME, Steve Tarver and his wife, Jill Hennessey, of Lancaster MA, his grandchildren, Katherine and Brian McGeever, both of Saco and Sean Hennessey Tarver of Lancaster; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Will's life by gathering at 10 am on Friday, December 30th, in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street, Waltham, where his Funeral Service will be held at 11 am. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made in his name to either the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Development Office, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 or the Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 350 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130