William Thomas "Bill" Trager Obituary (1931 - 2021)

William Bill Thomas, Trager, 89, of Dracut passed away in his home peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, August 22, 2021 surrounded by his family. He was a devoted and loving husband to his wife Carol, and proud father to his 3 Sons, Bernard, Leo, and Mark. Bill was born August 26, 1931, in Virginia, the only child of a career Navy man, Bernard Leon Trager, and a South Boston girl Mary Theresa (Okeefe) Trager. His early childhood was spent on the Pacific coast, the Panama Canal Zone, and in Honolulu Hawaii (1941-1942). After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he and his Mother returned to South Boston while his father served as a Communications Officer in the Pacific Campaign. Bill graduated from Boston Latin High School, and attended M.I.T. He then served in the Fire Direction Center of a Heavy Artillery Battalion of the 45th Infantry Division as a Tech Sergeant during the Korean War where he earned the Korean Service Medal with Bronze Star, United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service medal. After the war he attended Suffolk University for his B.S. in Chemistry, and Northeastern University for his M.S. degree. During that time he taught chemistry at the Franklin Institute of Boston for 5 years, and worked for the F.D.A. Upon his graduation from Northeastern, Bill worked for Raffi and Swanson of Wilmington Massachusetts, a producer of surface coatings and inks for 34 years before retiring in 1999. He and his wife Carol spent vacations swimming and bicycling on Marthas Vineyard, Nantucket, and South Eastern Coast from Hilton Head, Savanah, and the Florida Keys. He was a 50 year Emeritus member of the American Chemical Society. Bill is survived by his loving wife Carol (Newbury) of Dracut Ma, Son Bernard of South Boston, Son Leo and his wife Debbie of Dracut, and Son Mark of Portsmouth New Hampshire. His Grandson Alden William, and wife Nicole (Niki as only he was allowed to call her) of Wilmington Ma. His Granddaughter Amy Tomes, and her husband Scott of Windham NH. His Grandson William Thomas Trager, Ensign United States Navy and Grandson Eric Trager of South Boston. His 4 Great Grandchildren, Emma and Cameron Trager, and Crue and Eden Tomes. At his request there will be no visiting hours. Interment and military service will be held privately.