William H. Chalmers

William H. Chalmers (Bill), of Milford, NH and formerly Wilton, NH entered eternal peace on October 2, 2024 at Edgewood Manor in Portsmouth, NH. His wife Cindy was by his side. Bill struggled with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia, and after years of being cared for at home and at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack, NH, he eventually required care in a long-term facility. He was a resident of Edgewood for only 3 weeks prior to his passing.

 Bill was born on October 4, 1950, to John Arthur Chalmers and Mary Adalee Chalmers (Quinn) in Waltham, MA, where he was raised. Bill is survived by his twin brother, John Chalmers and wife Lucinda, their children Kayla and husband Pat, Corey and wife Kasey, and son Jamie. His daughters from a previous marriage are Heather Rossbach and husband Josh, and Kristin Chalmers. Grandchildren include Alexia, Brooklyn and Colbie, the children of Heather and Josh.

Following graduation from Waltham High School in 1968, Bill was drafted into the U.S. Army and was deployed to Vietnam. He was honorably discharged from the Army on April 22, 1971, with a rank of Specialist Five. During his time in Vietnam, Bill was exposed to Agent Orange, an herbicide recognized by the Veterans Administration as a cause of Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia.

Bill attended Northeastern University in Boston, earning a degree in finance and accounting. He also earned a master’s degree in business administration at Rivier University. After working in a variety of job settings, he was most proud of his position as a Financial Analyst for the United States Air Force. He held this position for 20+ years.

Bill also believed in giving back to his community through volunteering. He was a clown for the Shriners, a cook at a local community kitchen, and a driver for Meals on Wheels. He was an active member of The Second Congregational Church UCC in Wilton, a member of the Wilton Lions Club, and served one term as Treasurer for the Town of Wilton. Bill loved to make people laugh and was known for his quick wit and sense of humor.

On February 14, 2021, Bill married Cindy Melhorn, whom he lived with in Wilton, NH. He was welcomed into her family by Cindy’s children, Emily and her husband Russ, and Jordan and his partner Julia. He also became “Pop Pop” to Russ and Emily’s son Jack. Bill and Cindy enjoyed many shared interests during their relationship, including hockey and baseball games, love of the outdoors, travel to Acadia National Park and the beaches of Maine, and their fondness for rescuing senior dogs. His dogs were his beloved companions.

Donations in Bill’s memory can be made to Disabled American Veterans at www.dav.org, an organization that Bill supported for many years.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 18th at 11:00am in the Second Congregational Church, 25 Gregg Street, Wilton, NH, followed by a luncheon at Hampshire Hills, 50 Emerson Road, Milford, NH.