M.W. Ansel Alva Packard 1944
Ansel Alva Packard
We mourn the death of Ansel Alva Packard, 33°, on August 25, 1957, in Portland, Connecticut. He has gone to the undiscovered country from which no traveler returns, but where the next morning, he saw a glorious sun rise above a celestial horizon. His sun has set, but it sank among the splendor of an eternal dawn.
Ansel was born at Brockton, Massachusetts to Aurelius and Adella (Wadsworth) Packard on June 21, 1894. Two years later his parents took him to Maine where he graduated from the Belfast High School as president of his class in June, 1912. He entered the college of Technology at the University of Maine in September 1912 and received the degree of B. S. in Electrical Engineering in June, 1916 and E. E. in June, 1920.
He went to work for The Connecticut Power Company in 1917 at New London and was soon made Assistant Superintendent and later Superintendent of the Middletown Division. In July 15, 1922 he was appointed Manager of that division, and on November 1, 1956 was appointed Assistant to the President of the company, being transferred to the home office at Wethersfield.
On June 23, 1918, he married Miss Lytle C. Morrill, daughter of Herbert E. and Alice (Gilman) Morrill at Belmont, Maine. To this union were born a daughter, Margaret Lorraine, now Mrs. Clifford B. Williams, and three sons-Robert E., Herbert M. and Charles C., all married.
During his life he was engaged in over a hundred activities civic, professional, sporting, business, patriotic and medical. Ansel was of an old Yankee family as evidenced by his membership in the Sons of the American Revolution, the Society of Mayflower Descendants and the Society of Colonial Wars.
He was a member of Trinity Church in his home town of Portland, Connecticut and served as one of its Vestrymen for ten years.
As a Mason he had a long and useful record. He was a member of the following:
Warren Lodge No. 51 of Portland, W. M. 1925
Washington Chapter, R.A.M. No.6, High Priest 1927
Columbia Council No.9, R. & S. M., T. 1. M. 1949
Cyrene Commandery, No.8, Em. Commander 1930
He was elected Grand Master of Masons in Connecticut 1944 and was a member of the George Washington National Masonic Memorial Committee. He was awarded the Henry Price Medal by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, the Josiah H. Drummond Medal by the Grand Lodge of Maine, the Pierpont Edwards Medal in both Bronze and Silver by the Grand Lodge of Connecticut and served as Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Maine near the Grand Lodge of Connecticut from 1933 to the time of his death. He served as R. E. Grand Commander K. T. of Connecticut 1937-1946. Since 1937 he was a member of the Board of Managers of The Masonic Foundation of Connecticut.
As a Scottish Rite Mason he was T. P. Master of Charter Oak Lodge of Perfection 1943-1944, Sovereign Prince of Hartford Council, Princes of Jerusalem 1939-1940, Most Wise Master of Cyrus Goodell Chapter Rose Croix 1937-1938, and received his 32° Connecticut Consistory in 1922, and was one of its trustees. He received the 33° at Boston in 1942 and was created an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council at that time.
He was a member of Sphinx Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S. of Hartford. His desire to do good was untiring. It caused him to take part in his many activities. He was full of human kindness and was a delightful comrade.
