William H. Muldoon

Port Charlotte, Fla. – Mr. William H. Muldoon, of Port Charlotte, formerly of Waltham and Nashua, New Hampshire, died Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte. He was 98.

Born in Brighton, the son of the late William H. and Ethel (Merrill) Muldoon, and a 1936 graduate of Boston Latin School, he was a life-time learner – an avid reader and traveler. Mr. Muldoon worked for several years as a member of the Massachusetts Fish and Game Department, a job which led to a lifelong love of camping. Subsequently, he went to work for the New York Central Railroad where he served as Yardmaster at its Beacon Park, Allston location for over 40 years, retiring in 1978.

Mr. Muldoon served in the United States Army in World War II as a Combat Infantryman in the 24th Infantry Division of the 19th Infantry Regiment. One of the first ashore at the battle of Leyte Gulf, Mr. Muldoon also participated in landings in New Guinea and was a member of the celebrated Lost Battalion which operated behind enemy lines for several weeks in the Philippines. Wounded during those operations, Mr. Muldoon was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. As a result of his military service and with a desire to continue and foster the bonds of friendship formed during such service, Mr. Muldoon became one of the founding members of the 24th Infantry Division Association, an organization which still meets annually, and of which he served for a number of years as President of the New England branch. In 1982, he returned to the Philippines as a member of the Philippines Reunion of Peace group and, with several other veterans, received a special Philippines Liberation Award.

Mr. Muldoon was a founding member of Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Parish in Waltham where he served as an usher and member of the Holy Name Society. He was a member of its Building Committee, coached in the CYO Basketball League, served as the truant officer for the CCD program and, for many years, was a member of the Holy Name League at the Wal-Lex Bowling Lanes. Mr. Muldoon was a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Waltham Council #147. He was also a life member and served as chaplain of the PFC John M. Sullivan USMC Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 10344 on Trapelo Road. When he moved to Florida in 2004 he became an active member of the Disabled American Veterans and a life member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Association where he also served as chaplain.

Mr. Muldoon married his beloved first wife, Mary Ellen (Connell) Muldoon on April 19, 1947 and they were married for 30 years until her death in 1977. In 1986, he was lucky enough to find love again, and was married to Nancy Lee (Fitzgerald) Burton Muldoon for 28 years until her death in 2014. Mr. Muldoon was also predeceased by his siblings, Lyman T. Muldoon and his wife, Peggy; George M. Muldoon and his wife, Aggie; and Elizabeth A. Malvey and her husband, Jim; and his son, Lawrence Patrick Connell.

He leaves his daughter, Patricia A. Azadi and her husband Nasser, of Waltham; his daughter-in-law, Hazel Connell of San Mateo, California; his step-daughters, Lee Ann Levesque and her husband Ronald, of Punta Gorda, Florida, and Bonnie Rae Plummer and her husband David, of Northport, Florida and Nashua, New Hampshire; his grandson, Sean Michael Azadi of Waltham; his step-grandchildren, Joshua Sundstrom of Nashua, New Hampshire; Katelyn Burton-Williams of Punta Gorda, Florida and Adam Burley of Fitchburg; his great-grandchildren, Jackson Henry Robert of Voluntown, Connecticut, and Sophia Marie Prince of Punta Gorda, Florida, as well as many dear nieces and nephews, including Elizabeth (Dunn) Range and her husband, Richard of Ormond Beach, Florida with whom he visited often.

Family and friends will honor and remember Bill's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham, on Thursday, April 28th, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. on Friday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 920R Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA 02452 to assist in its programs for the poor and needy.