Eli B. Tambling Jr.

Eli Benson Tambling, Jr., 91 of Manchester, CT. peacefully passed away in his sleep in the comfort of his own home with his wife Carol by his side on Friday, May 31, 2019. He was the oldest son of Eli Benson Tambling, Sr. and Rose (L'Heureux) Tambling. He was born on August 21, 1927 in Marlborough, Mass. The family later moved to Union, Ct. where Eli attended elementary school in a one room schoolhouse. One teacher taught grades 1 thru 6. A potbelly stove heated the room in winter. He attended Farmington High School and in the Fall of 1944 he went to the school principal to tell him that he was joining the Navy. His father refused to sign for him to join the Marines but did agree to signing for him to join the Navy. The school gave him one final exam at that time, which he passed, and he joined the Navy on November 21, 1944. His mother accepted his high school diploma for him the following Spring. He attended Navy Boot Camp in Samson, N.Y. and then went to Newport, Rhode Island where he was assigned to the USS Columbus. He was assigned to a 5 inch 38 caliber gun as a sight setter. He voluntarily left the USS Columbus to become a fireman aboard the USS Astoria. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in July, 1946 as a Fireman Second Class. In 1948 he enlisted in the Marine Corps and attended Boot Camp in Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. He was assigned to the USS Little Rock and then the USS Salem. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps as a sergeant on February 29, 1952. He received the following ribbons: The American Theatre, the Asiatic Pacific, the Victory Medal and the China Service Medal. He married his first wife, Pauline Elizabeth Leverett on January 28, 1950. They had eight children together. She died in 1996. After military discharge he worked at the Underwood Typewriter in Hartford and at Canteen Vending Company before joining the Manchester Police Dept. on October 14, 1957. He served the Town of Manchester proudly until his retirement as a Sergeant on January 1, 1986. He married his second wife, Carol Eve McAdams on April 21, 2001. He loved working outside doing landscaping. Roses were his specialty and his pride and joy. He also loved fishing, watching football and basketball games and he was a loyal Red Sox fan. He also enjoyed playing his bagpipes. He was predeceased by his first wife Pauline, his oldest son Richard and his son Stephen as well as his brother Alfred. He leaves behind his loving wife Carol, his son Michael, his daughter Jody Taylor and her partner Bryan Kent, his daughter Leslie McCormack and her husband John, his son Matthew and his wife Wendy, his son Andrew and his wife Sara and his daughter Melissa, 16 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Robert and his wife Annie in Hermon, Maine and his brother Richard and his wife Eleanor in Boxborough, Mass. Family and friends are welcome to attend calling hours at Holmes-Watkins Funeral Home, 400 Main St. in Manchester on Sunday, June 9, 2019 from 2-4 pm. Funeral services will be on Monday, June 10, 2019 at 11 am at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 41 Park St. Manchester. Burial with Military Honors will be in East Cemetery, Manchester at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, the Manchester Police Athletic League or to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church Memorial Fund. To leave an online condolence please visit www.holmeswatkins.com

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