John U. Paton

John Urquhart Paton, 81, of Wilbraham passed away on September 18, 2023 after a short battle with congestive heart failure and cancer.
John was born on June 18, 1942 to Helen Urquhart Paton and Charles Barkley Paton in Springfield. John graduated from Tech High School in 1960, where he met his high school sweetheart-turned-wife Noreen Mosig Paton, who he affectionately called “The Queen.” Their first date, on June 19, 1959, where they went on a 28-mile drive all over the local communities, kicked off their marriage of 61 years.
Following his graduation from high school, John went on to study mechanical engineering at Western New England College, while working and starting his family. The pair went on to have two children, Laurie Paton North and Aaron Paton.
When John was young, he changed his job often, always looking for something better until he bought his own business in Westfield – finally finding a boss he really liked…himself. From the mid-1980s John ran LTM Manufacturing Co., a tool design and manufacturing business, which began in Westfield and later moved to Wilbraham. For 15 years, John’s son Aaron worked with him side by side at the business. Years before Aaron worked with his father, John installed with cement a soap dish in their shower. Aaron walked in, noticed John installed it upside down, and joked, “Is that what you wanted me to go to college for?”
A man of countless jokes and one-liners, when he interviewed for a job working at Stanley Tools, the interviewer asked, “Do you do anything with wood?” To which he replied, “Burn it in the fireplace in the winter.”
John had a deep love of the ocean and water. He spent years renting various cottages with his family on Lake Sunapee in New Hampshire, Lake Rescue in Vermont and Otis Reservoir in Massachusetts. In the last 19 years he enjoyed countless days with his family on Glen Echo Lake in Charlton, Massachusetts water skiing, swimming, boating and fishing. For many years, he spent time in Deep River, Connecticut on his 28-foot Crownline boat affectionately named “Tool Man.”
Water sports were the tip of the iceberg when it came to John’s hobbies. He had a love for travel and enjoyed trips with Noreen to the Mediterranean and the Greek Islands. On their 25th anniversary they went on a cruise to St. Maarten, St. Thomas and St. John – and last year, in 2022, they enjoyed a cruise to the same locations with their granddaughter Payton North. In 2021, he ventured on a cross-country road trip with his grandson, Alec North, to go hunting. While the trip was not without stress as they were truly roughing it in the country, John was always ready for an adventure with his grandchildren.
A fan of classic cars and motorcycles, John was a frequent attendee at the Ludlow Elks Cruise Night. In 1970, when John saw a 1969 blue corvette stingray for sale in a newspaper advertisement that noted the vehicle had been stolen and recovered, he could not resist. It was missing seats, the wire harness was cut out, the steering wheel was gone, the tires were gone – “what a deal,” he said. Before the owner’s manual came in the mail, he already had the car put back together.
An avid snow skier, John taught his children and later his grandchildren how to ski. He was a season passholder at Butternut and took great pride in getting the senior discount. In February of 2023, he went on a ski trip with – much younger – friends to Sugarbush in Vermont, where he proudly posed for a photo next to the designated parking for those 80 years and older.
John took 3-to-5-mile walks each day up until a few weeks before his passing with the other woman in his life – his golden doodle Missy, “the mistress.” He had such a love for dogs, especially his beloved golden doodle Rascal who passed in 2021.
It was not unusual to drive up to John and Noreen’s home to find John in the yard, mowing his lawn, picking up leaves, taking care of his flowers or doing house projects. In 2022 John spent the summer painting their three-story home all by himself.
While he was known for his brazen humor and inappropriate commentary, what John loved most was his family. Nearly every Sunday they gathered to enjoy a homecooked meal together, telling stories and playing his favorite card game, pitch. The family never let him keep score, because if he did, he would win.
John is survived by his wife Noreen, his daughter Laurie North and her husband Arthur North of Monson, his son Aaron Paton of Springfield, his granddaughter Payton North and his grandson Alec North. He is also survived by two brothers, Charles Paton of Agawam and Alan Paton of Springfield, and his nieces and nephews.
Noreen said it best: “We had a good marriage, a good life, a lot of fun, and a lot of laughs.”
Visiting hours will take place on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Wilbraham Funeral Home, 2551 Boston Rd. Wilbraham, MA. A brief Celebration of Life Service will take place at the funeral home at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Hillcrest Cemetery at 32 Wilbraham Rd. Monson, MA. A lunch reception to honor John will take place following the burial.
Donations in John’s name may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675 or Dakin Humane Society, 171 Union St., Springfield, MA 01105.