Granville “Dick” Gwillym, 88, entered into eternal rest on August 4, 2023, in Toms River, NJ. On April 10, 1935, Dick was born to Sarah and Richard Gwillym in Wilkes-Barre, PA. He spent his childhood living in many different places from New York to Pennsylvania to Connecticut, even spending some time in his family’s home country of Wales, but eventually called Brooklyn his home. As a young man, he proudly served the United States Navy from 1954-1958 during the Korean War. During this time, he spent many months away from his new wife while he was stationed in Japan, writing letters of his love until he could return home again. He had unwavering loyalty to his country, with an American flag forever waving in front of his New Jersey home. One of Dick’s proudest accomplishments was his time spent in the navy and his status as a veteran for many years thereafter, wearing his veteran hat as a badge of honor and telling stories of his time out at sea well into his old age. Dick spent his career as an integral part of the NYPD, patrolling the five boroughs of New York City, collecting stories he would tell for a lifetime. A hardworking husband and father, Dick was committed to providing for his family.
Dick met his beloved wife of 66 years, Rosemary, at the age of 19 at the corner candy store in Brooklyn, NY. They married three years later and spent the next 6 decades navigating life together, enduring its ups and downs, and celebrating its beautiful moments. Dick affectionately called Rosemary his “better half” and he looked for her in every room. Together, they had 6 beautiful children whom they raised in their home city of Brooklyn. In January of 2015, they made the move to Toms River, NJ where they enjoyed the perks of retirement, playing bocce and cornhole, making new friends, and attending various social events and trips. Granville joins his parents and two sisters, Peggy and Nancy, in heaven. He will forever and always be cherished by his family who loves him endlessly; his wife, Rosemary, his six children, Richard, Johnny, Christine, Jeannie, Thomas, and James (Nancy); and his precious grandchildren, Ashton, Robert, Kate, Eddie, Courtney, Rory, Joseph, Amanda, and Olivia. The abundance of memories and special moments spent with Granville will live on through those he leaves behind. Until we meet again.
Visiting hours will be held from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Tuesday August 8, 2023 at Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home 26 Mule Road Toms River, NJ 08755. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday August 9, 2023 at 11:30 am at St. Maximilian Kolbe RC Church 130 St. Maximilian Lane Toms River, NJ 08757. Cremation will be private.
In Lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations please be made in Dick's memory to either the Dementia Society of America, www.dementiasociety.org, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.org, or the Leukemia Research Association at www.leukemiarf.org
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Quinn-HoppingFH.com for the Gwillym family.
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