Donald B. Washburn

West Newton – Mr. Donald B. Washburn, of West Newton, died Saturday, December 3, 2011 at the E.N. Rogers Memorial Veteran's Administration Hospital in Bedford. He was 90.

Don was born in Lynn on October 5, 1921, a son of the late Frederick A. and Elsa (Minkel) Washburn, and was raised in Waltham where he graduated from the high school in 1939. During World War II he served with the United States Army Air Corps and was trained as a pilot. After the war, Don stayed in the service and retired as a Captain with the United States Air Force Reserve.

In May, 1946 he married his sweetheart, Catherine M. 'Kay' Sousa, also a Waltham native and together they raised eleven children at their home in West Newton, having moved there two years after their marriage. In civilian life Don worked as a painting and wallpaper contractor. He once painted the roof of his West Newton garage red so that it could easily be spotted from his plane flying to or from his base at Hanscom Field in Bedford. Don also worked many years for Friendly's Ice Cream Corporation, revamping their restaurants throughout the area.

In his younger days he enjoyed putting together airplane models, and in later years took up golf and puzzle solving. He and Kay enjoyed traveling in retirement and were proud to have visited all fifty states of the Union.

The father of the late Theodore 'Ted' Washburn and grandfather of the late Kevin Clancy, Don leaves his wife of sixty-five years, Catherine M. 'Kay' (Sousa) Washburn and his children, Paula Clancy and her husband, Richard, of Waltham, Donald Washburn and his wife, Judy, of Sandpoint, Idaho, Katherine 'Kit' Washburn of West Newton, Philip Washburn and his wife, April, of Fitchburg, Diane Nee and her husband, Kevin, of Waltham, Mark Washburn and his wife, Elizabeth, of Milford, Jean Washburn and her partner, Eric Cook, of Waltham, Joan Papalia and her husband, Alan, of Merrimack, New Hampshire, Suzanne Gallello and her husband, John, of Milford, New Hampshire and George Washburn of Newton. He also leaves Ted's fiancée, Jacki Doucet of Waltham; his brothers and sisters, Frederick Washburn of Nevada, Paul Washburn of Sandwich, Betty Whitcomb of Florida, Jean Armstrong of Texas and Priscilla Hall of Arizona; 30 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Don's life by gathering to visit in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Saturday morning, December 10th, from 9 to 10 a.m. before leaving in procession to Saint Bernard's Church, 1523 Washington Street, West Newton where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Services will conclude at Newton Cemetery Chapel.

Memorial donations may be made to Bedford VA Hospital, GRECC Unit, c/o Joseph Dooley, 200 Springs Road, Bedford, MA 01730 or to Hospice of the Good Shepherd, 2042 Beacon Street, Newton, MA 02468.