Nathaniel W. Briggs died on Dec. 12, 2010 at the Windemere Nursing Home.

He was born on Feb. 20, 1918 in Flushing, Queens, N.Y., son of Henry M. Briggs and Mary Elizabeth Benton Briggs along with his sister, Marion Benton Briggs. His uncle was the famous artist Thomas Hart Benton.

His father was a commander in the Navy and they lived and traveled to numerous places including Annapolis, Md., Newport, R.I., New Hampshire and California. Nathaniel attended Proctor Academy and has lived on Martha’s Vineyard since 1946.

He resided for many years at Hillside Village in Vineyard Haven before going to Windemere Nursing home in 2002.

Nathaniel was well educated and well versed in poetry and could recall and recite poems easily. He was also known to enjoy singing. He was a faithful visitor to the local library as his favorite pastime was reading history as well as fictional books.

A graveside service for the burial of his and his sister’s cremains will be at Abel’s Hill Cemetery in Chilmark on Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 11 a.m. officiated by the Rev. Alden Besse. There will also be a service of remembrance at Windemere on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 2:30 p.m.

Donations may be made to Windermere Nursing Home, P.O. Box 1747 or the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, P.O. Box 1477, both in Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.

Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs. Please visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.