Wesley Ellsworth Lake, Jr., 97, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, passed away on Thursday October 30th, 2025 at St. Luke's Hospital, with loving family by his side.

Born on January 2nd, 1928, Wesley Lake made New Bedford his lifelong home.  He graduated from New Bedford Vocational School as an architectural draftsman in 1944.  He started designing loom parts for the Textile Research Company at the Hoosac Mill, before enlisting in the United States Army in 1946.  Wesley served in the 1591st Engineering Utilities Detachment, in charge of topographical drafting, as part of the first occupation forces in Korea after World War II.

Following his military service, Wesley returned to the Hoosac Mill in New Bedford.  In addition to an extensive on-the-job training program learning all aspects of the Mill's operations, Wesley enrolled in night classes at the New Bedford Textile Institute for nearly ten years.  By the time Hoosac Mill closed in 1958, Wesley oversaw the spinning, winding, and twisting room and its 375 employees.

Wesley continued his lifetime profession in the textile engineering field.  As Executive Vice President and General Manager of Nannery Associates and Vice President of its predecessor Ralph E. Loper Company in Fall River, MA, he consulted on projects that took him to over 40 countries on five continents.  After stints with several other local textile firms, he eventually retired in 1993 from Harodite Finishing Company in North Dighton / Taunton, MA after four years as Plant Industrial Engineer.

Wesley was a skilled artist – painting oil and watercolor pieces as well as carving scrimshaw.  An avid photographer, he was a former President of the New Bedford Camera Club and Area Representative for the Photographic Society of America, where several of his works were featured worldwide.  An accomplished woodworker, he designed and built many custom pieces of furniture out of his home workshop.   He also tended to his vegetable garden, routinely giving fresh produce to family and friends.

But by far, his greatest role was that of husband to his beloved wife of 69 years Beverley, father to Alan and daughter-in-law Elaine, grandfather to Michael, neighbor and friend to so many … both people and dogs.  They will miss his warmth, friendliness, humility, and caring heart.

Wesley is survived by his devoted daughter-in-law, Elaine (Harrison) Lake of Buzzards Bay, and his grandson Michael Wesley Lake of Weymouth, as well as many cousins.   In addition to his wife Beverley (Parkin) Lake, he was predeceased by his son Alan Wayne Lake of Buzzards Bay and his half-sister Florence Mae (Lake) King of Brooklyn Park, MN.

Friends and relatives are invited to a joint memorial celebration – for Wesley and his son Alan – on Saturday November 22nd, 2025 at 11AM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park Street in New Bedford.  The family will begin receiving guests at 10:30AM, prior to the service. A private burial was held at Acushnet Cemetery in Acushnet, MA, prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his honor to the American Heart Association .