Whitney Doane Morse, born Aug. 17, 1938, passed away on Jan. 4, with his wife and daughters by his side.
He was the descendant of nine, 1639 Guilford founders on his mother’s side and John Moss, one of the original planters of Wallingford, on his dad’s side. He was a member of the Doane Family Association.
He leaves his wife Margaret Berger Morse, daughters Torrey P. Morse and Jessica D. Lelas, and sister Jane Davis. He was predeceased by his parents Whitney L. and Priscilla Doane Morse and son-in-law John P. Lelas III.
Mr. Morse, a 1956 graduate of Guilford High School received a bachelor of science in industrial technology from Miami University of Ohio, 1965 and was a member of Epsilon Pi Tau Scholastic Honorary Society and Tau kappa Epsilon Social Fraternity (TKE).
He served his country at the beginning of the Vietnam conflict (1958-1962) in the United States Navy, mustering out as draftsmen 2nd class, petty officer.
Mr. Morse began his working career as a draftsman at Kevin Roche and Dinkleoo Architects, Hamden, but moved on to work for the State of Connecticut in 1970, working first in the Department of Health and then in Public Works. He retired after 27 years in 1997. He then worked part time at Page’s Hardware, Guilford (1998-2005), his fun retirement employment.
Mr. Morse’s interests were numerous, including model railroading, the Rutland Railroad Club of Vermont, old cars (he was the owner of a Model T Ford, 1915), family history and genealogy, and collecting stamps and coins. He and his wife toured Vermont as members of the 251 Club in Vermont, a club set up to visit every town in that state. Once they completed finding all the towns, they began searching for and finding the covered bridges of Vermont. In 2019, the couple began daily excursions as a part of the Connecticut 169 Club to visit each town.
Mr. Morse liked to putter, fixing things around his home in Guilford and at a cottage on Lake Champlain, North Ferrisburgh, Vermont.
He enjoyed doing yardwork and taking daily walks with Margaret, his wife of 54 years. After three major strokes in 2005 that resulted in aphasia, a communication disorder, Mr. Morse began doing jigsaw and Sudoku puzzles recommended to help stimulate the brain.
Mr. Morse loved his family unconditionally, was proud of his daughters. He was a quiet man, a man of few words, but often profound ones. He never spoke against anyone and was honest to a fault. A man of integrity. Sweet!
Mr. Morse was a member of The Church of the Resurrection (Anglican), Wallingford.
A service for Mr. Morse will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 23, at the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street, Guilford, followed by a graveside interment with military honors at the Alder Brook Cemetery, 375 Boston Street, Guilford. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Quantum Immune Therapy of Freeport Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas; The Church of the Resurrection (Anglican), 42 Weaver Circle, North Haven, CT 06473; and All Nation’s Church (Anglican), 358 Lenox Street, New Haven, CT 06513. Arrangements are in the care of the Guilford Funeral Home. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.
