A DEVOTED family man, who ran Shenfield Post Office for 31 years, has died at the age of 84.
For years, John Boon was a trusted and familiar face on the Broadway in Hutton Road, having taken over the community business in 1960.
However, away from stamps, parcels and giros, the father-of-two, described by those who knew him best as "gentle" and "unassuming", dedicated a vast amount of his time to community work through the Rotary movement.
He was a founder member of the Rotary Club of Hutton and Shenfield in 1965 (a club which later merged with others in the area) and his contribution to the cause over 56 years was "huge," according to his eldest daughter Elizabeth Charnley.
Fundraising for Brentwood Community Hospital and Saint Francis Hospice were just some of the Rotary projects in which he played a significant part.
Mrs Charnley, who lives in Coggeshall, said her father, who was known as "Papa" by his four grandchildren, had a "warm" personality.
"He was an unassuming person, very quiet, and every single condolence card we've received talks about him being a gentleman," she said. "He was very much part of the community.
"As a father he was gentle, supportive and loving and we shall obviously miss him. He was very much a family man and we are a very close family unit."
Mr Boon, who was married to Greta, 80, for 58 years, was born in Brentwood on January 21, 1928.
As a boy he helped out at his father's shop, Boon's the Bakers, in High Street, and when he left Brentwood School he headed for London, where he traded flour.
He later bought his first shop, a grocery store, in Crescent Road, Brentwood, before taking over the Shenfield Broadway Post Office.
Mr Boon lived in Shenfield Green with his wife until last year, when they moved into Ardtully care home, in Ingatestone.
Around two years ago, he suffered an aortic aneurysm (a swelling of the aorta, the body's largest artery). He died at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford from this condition on December 21.
A thanksgiving service took place at Brentwood School Chapel on Friday.
Mr Boon is survived by his wife, his daughters Elizabeth and Coralie, and his grandchildren Grace, 19, Tora, 17, Sophie, 13 and Georgina, 11.
