Obituary of Wesley Alexander

Mr. Wesley Harlan Alexander, Sr., 80, of 775 Mountain Rd., Cheshire, died Saturday October 27, 2007 at the Mid-State Medical Center in Meriden. He was the husband of the late Mattie (Blume) Alexander, who died in 1993. Mr. Alexander was born in Rockville Center, N.Y., May 27, 1927, a son of the late Arthur and Alva (Lyons) Alexander and had been a Cheshire resident for the past 50 years, moving here from Wallingford. He maintained a summer home on Mooselookmeguntic Lake in Oquossoc, Maine. He was a graduate of Cheshire Academy and the Citadel and was a U.S. Navy veteran of serving during World War II. He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Cheshire, the Hamden Fish and Game Protective Assoc. and the National Rifle Assoc. He was a retired Industrial Engineer, having worked for Scovill Mfg. Co. and later for Armstrong Rubber Co. Mr. Alexander had been active for most of his life in Masonry. He was a member and Past Master of Compass Lodge No. 9 Wallingford Ct.; Past District Deputy, Masonic Dist 4 C of The Grand Lodge of Connecticut; Past Honorary Grand Commander Of The Grand Commandery Of Connecticut; Past Commander of New Haven Commandery No. 2and St Elmo No. 9 Knights Templar; a Member of Connecticut Priory No.28, Knights of the York Cross of Honour; The York Rite College No.17 and is the Holder of the Order of the Purple Cross. He was a Past High Priest of Paulaski Chapter No.26; Past Trice Illustrious Master of Crawford Council No.19and additional allied organizations of the York Rite. He was a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of New Haven, 32nd degree; the Lafayette Consistory, Valley of Bridgeport, and had received his Honorary33rdDegree on September 26, 2000. He was also a member of Sphinx Temple of the Shrine Newington Ct. and The Highlanders Pipe Band. He was also a member of The Dusis Society of New Haven, Ct. He leaves two sons, Wesley H. Alexander, Jr. and his wife Jamie of Beverly Hills, FL. and John M. Alexander of Middlefield; two daughters, Marianne Odell and her husband Kim of Higganum, and Lori Russo of Meriden; 7 grandchildren, Jennifer Odell, Kurt Odell, Nicholas Odell and wife, Naomi, James Alexander, Rachel Alexander, Sara Russo, and Joseph Russo, Jr.; 2 great-grandchildren, Jamison Odell and Noah Odell; and his extended family, Peggy and Jeffrey Young of Wallingford and caregivers, Kristy Crouch, Joan Nash and Cheryl Nepvue. Funeral services will be held on Friday November 2, 2007 10 a.m. at the First Congregational Church of Cheshire. Burial with Military honors will be in Cheshire Hillside Cemetery. Friends may call at the Slater Funeral Home, 242 S. Main St. (Rt. 10) on Thursday November 1, 2007 from 4 to 8 p.m. The Grand Commandery of the State of Conn. will conduct a Masonic Service on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Knights Templar Eye Research Fund, Masonic Temple, 285 Whitney Ave., New Haven, 06511.or to the All Saints Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o The First Congregational Church of Cheshire, 111 Church Dr., Cheshire, 06410.