Dr. William J. Farland.

WESTBOROUGH Dr. William J. Farland, also known as "Bill" or "Doc", died Thursday, December 9, 2010 at Beaumont Nursing & Rehabilitation Center of Westborough. He was 83.

He was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy (Czechowski) Farland in 1994. He is survived by a daughter, Michelle Farland of Marlborough, a son, Peter Farland and his wife, Susan, of Shrewsbury, two grandchildren, Nicole and Tyler Farland, and a very dear friend, Janet Sundquist of Rutland. Three sons, Paul, David and Michael also predeceased him.

Bill was born on July 25, 1927 in Whitinsville, MA, the son of William J. Farland and Clara (Bouvier) Farland. He was a 1945 graduate of Northbridge High School. He played clarinet and saxophone and sang with "The Music Makers" and the "Johnny Witek Orchestra" for many years. He was an enthusiastic music fan, especially of the big band sound.

In 1949 he graduated cum laude as Doctor of Optometry from the New England College of Optometry in Boston, MA with a BA in optical science.

He proudly served in the US Army during the Korean War and was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He served as an Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Technician, basically responsible for optometric work at Percy Jones Army Hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan and the 97th General Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany. He was the Sergeant in Charge of the 10th General Dispensary Eye Clinic in Frankfurt, Germany. After receiving an honorable discharge in September of 1952, he opened an optometry practice in Shrewsbury where he practiced until retiring in 1990. He also had a part time practice in Hopkinton for a number of years. Additionally, he worked for the...