William H. Trueheart

William ‘Bill’ Henderson Trueheart, Jr, passed the morning of December 3, 2021 at home surrounded by family and the love of God.

He was the beloved husband to his wife of 65 years to Elizabeth Ann Trueheart. He was a loving father to Karen Ann Archer and David Gagnon of Londonderry, NH, Lisa Jo Moher and Kevin Moher of Bedford, NH, Stacie Lee Trueheart & Mary Ann Trueheart of Woodbridge, VA, Gretchen Alane Trueheart Whiting & Anthony Whiting of Hudson, NH, Ginger Trueheart Defino & Ron Defino of Haverhill, MA.

A doting grandfather of eight to Terrianne Trueheart Archer and Kee Smith, Steven William Archer, William Robert and Corrine Moher, Matthew Trueheart and Brittany Moher, Jake Oliver Whiting, Brittney Elizabeth Whiting, Samantha Ashley Whiting & Madison Elizabeth Defino, and a proud great-grandfather of three, Lena Trueheart Smith, Maxwell Henderson Moher and Landon Jeffrey Moher.

Bill was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts on October 24, 1934 to William & Marcella Trueheart. He and Elizabeth met at Northeastern University and married in June 1956, he was then commissioned as an officer in the United States Army in 1957. Bill was deployed to both the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. During his service, he obtained a Master’s Degree from Georgia Southern University in 1974. His service took he and his family around the world, where they experienced the cultures of Turkey and Iran. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after 23 years of service in 1980.

His lifelong love of trains gave Bill and Elizabeth the passion to open a hobby store in Bedford, NH – The Village Depot, which they ran from August 1980 to Spring 1992. During this time, he also became a professor at New Hampshire College (Southern New Hampshire University) teaching Computer Information Systems for 20 years. He was the 1st of 13 Trueheart’s to teach or attend the university.

While operating the Village Depot, he formed a group of friends together to foster their love of trains known as the Bedford Boomers, where for 30 years they put on a railroad show to the public at McKelvie School in Bedford, NH. The group has continued to get together through present time which fulfilled his dream of friendship through trains. His generosity continued by leading the restoration of the Flying Yankee Train that is now up in Lincoln, NH. Bill eventually got his Motorman license with the Sea Shore Trolley Museum in Kennebunk, ME.

Bill’s devotion to the military and the sacrifice that comes with service, prompted him to take the position of president for the organization to place a Gold Star Mothers Statue across from Veterans Park in Manchester, NH.

He participated in many family activities to include being softball coach for all five of his children. He loved bragging about everything that his grandchildren and great grandchildren did and accomplished. This was seen through his church family at Bethany Covenant Church as well, where he was a grandfather to all that attended.

Bill is now seated with Our Lord joined by his parents and daughter, Lisa Jo. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, four children, eight grandchildren, three great grandchildren, his sister, Marcella Galanie, and nieces and nephews.

ARRANGEMENTS: His Visitation will be held in the Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 243 Hanover St., Manchester, on Sunday, December 12 from 2:00 to 4:00P.M. and 6:00 to 8:00P.M. His Funeral Service will be Celebrated in the Bethany Covenant Church, 1 Covenant Way, Bedford on Monday, December 13 at 11:00A.M. Friends and relatives invited. For those unable to attend, Bill's service will be live streamed at the following link: https://vimeo.com/event/1631347 

William will be laid to rest with Military Honors at the Bedford Center Cemetery on Saturday, June 4 at 11:00AM.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Trueheart Scholarship Fund at Southern NH University at the following link: Trueheart Scholarship Fund at Southern NH University at https://alumni.snhu.edu/make-a-gift/give-now or to the Sea Shore Trolley Museum, 195 Log Cabin Rd., Kennebunkport, ME 04046 or at https://trolleymuseum.org/support/donate/ To view William's Online Tribute, send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit www.phaneuf.net.