Walter R. McDonald

Townsend – Mr. Walter R. McDonald, of Townsend, died Friday, March 9, 2012 at Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer. He was 80.

Walter was born in Waltham on August 28, 1931, a son of the late Walter R. and Mary T. (Loughnane) McDonald. After graduating from Waltham High School he served with the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He had lived in Lexington for 40 years before moving to Townsend ten years ago. Until his retirement Walter worked as a sales manager for Stainless Pipe and Fitting Company in Cambridge. After that he worked for a number of years as the director of buildings and grounds at the Hayden Recreation Center in Lexington. Walter had also been a longtime member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 2204, in Lexington.

He leaves his wife of 57 years, Helen D. (Forster) McDonald; his children, Elizabeth McDonald of Townsend, Thomas J. McDonald of Greenville, New Hampshire, Walter S. 'Butch' McDonald and his wife, Verla, of Pepperell, Robert F. McDonald and his wife, Sharon, of Bedford, Karen McDonald Hopkins of Townsend, James A. McDonald of Acton and Keith A. McDonald and his wife, Michelle, of Billerica; 9 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Walter's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Wednesday, March 14th, from 3 to 7 p.m. and again at 10 a.m. on Thursday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.