Wilbur Cobb

DANVERS - Wilbur "Wil" Cobb passed away peacefully on November 19th, 2020 at the age of 94. Wil was born in Beverly, raised in Salem, and spent over 50 years on Warren Street in Danvers, with his beloved late wife, Isabel Cobb. Wil was an advocate of education. At family gatherings, he never missed an opportunity to ask his grandchildren about their studies at school. In 1943, Wil graduated from Salem High School and then attended Wentworth Institute where he earned an Associate’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. While working full time and supporting his family, Wil attended Boston University and Northeastern University in the evenings, where he obtained a Masters of Business Administration. Will proudly served in the U.S. Navy for three years. After his service, he began a long career in Personnel Management starting at Varian Associates in Beverly. Although Wil had several other prominent professional positions, the pinnacle of his career was being employed at United Shoe Machinery Corporation in Beverly, where he served as the Director of Industrial Relations. Wil exemplified a life well lived and will be remembered as an extraordinarily kind and caring individual who deeply valued and embraced everyone’s individuality and varied views. He generously donated his time to numerous committees and community organizations, such as the Shriners, the Chamber of Commerce, the YMCA, the United Fund, The Peabody Institute Library Board of Trustees, Hunt Hospital and served as a Danvers Town Meeting Member for many years. He was a consummate collector and archivist, a Boy Scout leader as well as an Eagle Scout himself, a lover of all music, a chess player, a genealogy enthusiast, a voracious reader, an avid historian with a special interest in the Native American culture, a bridge player, a devout Holy Trinity United Church Methodist church attendee and a choir member at the age of 91. He was also known as a great lover of conversation and the “friendly guy” who held signs in Danvers square in support of local candidates. Most of all, Wil was a devoted family man, who loved every opportunity to gather and share meals, laughs and good conversation. He could be found “front and center” at every celebration, performance and event. Wil is survived by his daughter, Judith Lawless and her husband, Kevin, of Citra, Florida and his son, Eric Cobb of Danvers. He also leaves behind three grandchildren: Jamie Erler and her husband, Jesse, their children Wyatt and Elliott and step-children Olivia and Alexandra of Danvers; Rachael Travers and her husband Levi Huffman of Philadelphia; Kathryn Travers of Mount Desert Island; and step-grandchildren Colby Lawless of Haverhill and Morgan Lawless of Merrimac. You are invited to visit Lyonsfuneral.com to share a memory and to view a photo video. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Wil's name to the Peabody Institute Library, 15 Sylvan St., Danvers, MA, 01923 one of Wil's favorite organizations.