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J. Philip Ledger, 81
Southborough - J. Philip Ledger, 81, a former resident of Osterville, died April 8, 1998 at the Metrowest Medical Center after a long battle with cancer.
He was the husband of Winifred (Hemenway) Ledger.
Born in Leominster, he graduated from Leominster High School and the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts. He also earned a bachelor's degree from Tufts University and a master's degree in education from Tufts Graduate School.
He volunteered to serve in the Army during World War II, was wounded in the Italian campaign and awarded the Purple Heart with two service stars.
A Sudbury resident for most of his life, Mr. Ledger was active in community affairs, the Sudbury Players and as a leader of the United Fund.
For the last 10 years, he and his wife lived in Osterville until recently moving to Southborough.
Surviving besides his wife are four daughters, Valentine Judge of Chicago; Phoebe Ledger of New York, Jane Jackson of Southborough and Alison Fraser of Marlborough; a sister, Eleanor Weaver of Leominster; a brother, Louis Ledger of Oregon; and nine grandchildren.
Funeral services will be private at a later date.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Ernest L. Lee Jr., 67
Detroit, Mich. - Ernest L. Lee Jr., 67, a former longtime Cape resident, died April 5, 1998 at his home in Detroit.
He was the former husband of June E. (Outerbridge) Lee of Hyannis.
Born in Washington , D.C., he joined the Air Force in the 1950s and was stationed in Bermuda. In 1957 he married and was stationed in Florida.
Then in the 1970s he was stationed at Otis Air Force Base and lived in Mashpee and Hyannis. He moved to Detroit in 1986.
A Korean War Air Force veteran, Mr. Lee was a member of the Disabled American Veterans and a recipient of the Purple Heart.
While living on the Cape, he managed the Belltones, a steel drum band, and Mix Company.
He enjoyed gardening and setting up miniature train sets.
Surviving besides his former wife are a son, Kim Lee of Hyannis; a daughter, Jeneil Lee of Hyannis; three sisters, Jennie Mangrum and Barbara Jackson, both of Washington , D.C., and Mildred Freeman of Silver Spring, Md.; a brother, Kenneth Baker of Washington , D.C.; a granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held in Detroit and burial in Washington , D.C.
Norman R. LeFrancois, 83
Tiverton, R.I. - Norman R. LeFrancois, 83, formerly of Hyannis, died April 10, 1998 at Metacom Manor Health Center in Bristol.
He was the husband of Winifred L. (Saulnier) LeFrancois for 60 years.
Born in Fairhaven, Mass., he was a resident of Tiverton for eight years and previously lived in Hyannis.
He started as a newspaper delivery person and worked up to circulation manager for the New Bedford Standard Times and the former Cape Cod Standard Times for 26 years, retiring in 1959.
After leaving the newspaper, he worked as a postal clerk at the Hyannis Post Office for 17 years until his retirement in 1977.
A World War II Navy veteran, he served as a baker second class on the destroyer Escort, USS Perkins, where he witnessed the signing of the peace treaty in Tokyo Bay.
He was the past grand knight for the McMahon Council, Knights of Columbus, New Bedford, a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, Hyannis, member of the B.P.O.E. Ledge, Hyannis, and an avid recreational fisherman.
Surviving besides his wife are a son, Ronald M. LeFrancois of Tiverton; a sister, Rita Raymond of New Bedford, Mass.; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held April 14 at the Sansone Funeral Home in Bristol, with a Mass of Christian burial in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Bristol. Committal services were at Massachusetts National Cemetery
in Bourne.
Memorial doantions may be made to UNICEF, 633 3rd Ave., New York, NY 10017.
J. Seymour McLean, 81
Centerville - J. Seymour McLean, 81, formerly of Newton and Vero Beach, Fla., died April 7, 1998 at his home in Centerville after a long illness.
He was the husband of Rita M. (Bruen) McLean.
Born in Newton, he graduated from Our Lady's High School in 1935 and from College of the Holy Cross in 1939. That same year, he was employed by the Coca Cola Co. of Boston and joined the 241st Massachusetts National Guard.
In 1942, Mr. McLean graduated from the Officers Candidate School as a second lieutenant and was transferred to Africa.
In 1944, the Army assigned Mr. McLean as aide decamp to Gen. Cmdr. James Townsend of the 35th AA Brigade. He was awarded five Battle Citations before his honorable discharge as first lieutenant in 1946.
He was the owner of the Waban Wine Shop and Waban Realty, which he founded in 1946 in historic Waban Hall, Newton. He retired in 1983 and moved to Centerville.
An avid golfer, Mr. McLean was a former member of Woodland Golf Club in Newton, Indian Pines in Florida and Cummaquid Golf Club.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and Kiwanis Club in Newton, American Legion and the Massachusetts Package Association and he was awarded membership in the Century Club of Holy Cross.
He also enjoyed people, a good laugh and was often referred to as "the life of the party."
Surviving are two daughters, Janice M. Simpson of Millis and Barbara Felegian of Wellesley; two sons, John S. McLean Jr. of Cotuit and Lawrence B. McLean of Edmunds, Wash.; seven grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass was celebrated April 13 at Our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville. Burial was in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.
Memorial donations may be made to VNA of Central Cape Cod, 434 Route 134, South Dennis, MA 02660.
Lillian O'Brien, 83
Hyannis - Lillian E. (Woodside) O'Brien, 83, a former waitress, died April 6, 1998 at Cape End Manor in Provincetown.
She was the wife of Thomas J. O'Brien, who died in 1987.
Born in Prince Edward Island, Canada, she was raised and educated in Malden and Somerville schools. She worked for John Hancock Insurance Co. at its headquarters in Boston, where she was a waitress for the executive dining room.
Mrs. O'Brien retired in 1978 and moved to Hyannis. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting.
She is survived by her sister-inlaw, Alice Woodside of North Eastham; three nephews, Norman A. Woodside of North Eastham and Norman Campbell and Claire Campbell, both of P.E.I, Canada; a niece, Eunice T. Amerault of North Eastham; and many great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews.
Graveside servicas were private at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery
in Centerville.
Memorial donations may be made to Cape End Manor, Residents Council, 100 Alden St., Provincetown, MA 02657.
The Rev. John Morris "Morry" Rockness, 86
Centerville - The Rev. John Morris "Morry" Rockness, 86, a resident of Centerville since 1978, died April 6, 1998 at Brewster Manor Nursing Home after an illness.
He was the husband of Ann M. (McGowan) Rockness.
Born in Tacoma, Wash., he was raised and educated there and in Vaschon Island, Wash. He was a graduate of the University of Washington and the Prairie Bible Institute in Alberta, Canada.
From 1936 to 1951, Mr. Rockness served as a missionary with the China Inland Mission in China. Upon withdrawal from China, the mission set up headquarters in Singapore with the name Overseas Missionary Fellowship, where Mr. Rockness was on the administrative staff, first as secretary and later as assistant overseas director, from 1952 to 1960.
In 1960, he was appointed as associate home director for North America and was based out of Philadelphia. In 1968, he returned to Singapore and served on the headquarters staff.
In 1973, Mr. Rockness became the northeast regional director of Overseas Missionary Fellowship, based out of Philadelphia. The mission is now known as OMF International.
In 1978, he retired and moved to Centerville. For a number of years, he was a member of the Board of the Interdenominational Foreign Mission Association, including two years as its president. He was also chairman of the Committee of Evangelical Missionaries to Islam for eight years.
An avid sports fan, he enjoyed golf and tennis. He also enjoyed people and helping others.
Surviving besides his wife are four daughters, Margaret M. Toop of Seattle, Karen E. Maxson of Hopatcong, N.J., Kristin R. Pond of Centerville and Kathrin Hastey of Beverly; three sons, Donald A. Rockness of Greenwich, Conn., David M. Rockness of Lake Wales, Fla., and John M. Rockness Jr. of Raleigh, N.C.; a brother, Omar A. Rockness of Seattle; 14 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held April 10 at Beechwood Cemetery
in Centerville.
Memorial donations may be made to the Osterville Baptist Church Building Fund, Main Street, Osterville, MA 02655; or OMF International, 10 W. Dry Creek Circle, Littleton, CO 80120-4413.
William Thornton, 76
Centerville - William Joseph Thornton, 76, an accountant, died April 9, 1998 at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis.
He was the husband of Betty (Stanwood) Thornton.
Born in Boston, he was a graduate of Reading High School, attended Babson College and graduated from Bentley College.
During World War II, Mr. Thornton served in the Navy as an aviation chief ordnance man and was stationed on the USS Enterprise. After his discharge and college graduation, he became a certified public accountant.
He was an accountant for many years for the Charles E. Stanwood Co. in Boston until 1968 when he purchased the John T. Robinson Co., a paper box manufacturer in Hyde Park. He owned that company until the late 1970s. From 1978 to 1979, he was an accountant for Leahy Clinic.
A power boating enthusiast, he also enjoyed golfing and flower gardening.
Besides his wife, he is survived by four children, Lesley Coveney of Columbia, Tenn., William S. Thornton of Brooksville, Fla., Brian A. Thornton of Wallingford, Vt., and David S. Thornton of West Barnstable; and three grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at the Doane, Beal & Ames Funeral Home in Hyannis. Burial was private.
Memorial donations may be made to the Centerville Public Library, 585 Main St., Centerville, MA 02632; or the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of. Cruelty to Animals, 1577 Falmouth Road, Centerville, MA 02632.
