William H. Viebrock

William H. Viebrock, 93, of New London, passed away Oct. 5 at Park Place Care Facility in Mt. Pleasant. The son of Henry and Dorothy Viebrock, Bill was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Dec. 12, 1913. In 1940, he married Maurine Schermerhorn of Brier Hill, N.Y., who predeceased him in 1999.

Bill is a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in World War II. After the war, he attended St. Johns University in Queens, N.Y., and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. He worked in the sales division of the General Chemical Company, which became Allied Chemical. Bill and Maurine raised their children in Queens Village, N.Y. and moved to Ridgefield, Conn. in 1963. He worked in newspaper advertising in Connecticut.

The couple moved to Mt. Pleasant upon retirement in 1979 to be near family and be part of raising their grandchildren. Bill was active in the Mt. Pleasant and New London communities, volunteering in the schools and at Old Threshers. He was an avid Scrabble and chess player, which kept him of sharp mind in his later years. He enjoyed keeping a garden and passing on his love of the outdoors to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by a son, Charles W. Viebrock and his wife Rebecca of Novato, Calif., a retired Captain in the U.S. Merchant Marine; and a daughter, Karen A. Osborne and her husband Ron of New London, who recently retired from the Mt. Pleasant school system. His grandchildren include Christian Viebrock of Novato, Calif.; Emily Hymes and her husband Greg of Keokuk; James Osborne of Birmingham, Ala.; and Evan Osborne of Altoona; and great-granddaughters Mallory and Emma Hymes of Keokuk.

The family requests memorial donations be made to the New London Fire and Rescue Department. Services are private. Elliott Chapel of New London is in charge of arrangements.