Obituary

US Army World War II Veteran

DONALD C. PHINNEY -in Woburn, Wednesday, January 13th, beloved husband of E. Viriginia"Sis" (Lucas) Phinney. Devoted father of Susan Foster and her husband Charles of N. Andover, Nancy Ludlow and her husband David of Kingston, Gail Hall and her husband David of Billerica, Dawn Cotter of Sutton and Kathleen Salafia and her husband David of Dracut. Dear brother of Charles Phinney of Billerica and the late Frank, Vernon and Robert Phinney and Marjorie Mercier. Loving grandfather of eight grandchildren, Jacquelyn Grattan, David Young, Christopher and Justin Foster, Richard and Jon DeLisle, Kaitlin Cotter and Allison Jackson and five great grandchildren. Funeral from the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn, on Saturday, January, 16th at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn at 11:30. Interment with Military Honors will follow in Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn. Calling hours will be held on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. Donations may be made in Mr. Phinney's memory to The Salvation Army National Headquarters, 615 Slaters Lane, P.O. Box 269, Alexandria, VA 22313, to VNA Hospice Care, 100 Sylvan Road, G500, Woburn, MA 01801, or to a charity of your choice.

OBITUARY:

Donald C. Phinney, 84, of Woburn, Massachusetts, died January 13th, 2010, after a prolonged illness.

He was born on May 14th, 1925, in Rowley, Massachusetts, to Frank and Katherine Phinney.

Mr. Phinney served as a paratrooper in the United States military during World War II in the 17th Airborne Division, participating in Operation Varsity, the largest jump into Germany during the war, and he also fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He received multiple commendations, including the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. After the war he was a member of the Elks and a color guard for the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

In 1946, he married Virginia Lucas of Woburn. They began their family in Billerica and in 1957 purchased a home in Woburn, where they raised five daughters.

For thirty years Mr. Phinney worked at H.P. Hood & Sons throughout New England for the mechanical engineering department. For the following fifteen years he worked within the Woburn public school system to maintain and renovate its various buildings, retiring in 1990.

His skills as a carpenter and mason are reflected in the homes of his family and many friends. He took pride in maintaining his home and spending time in his gardens. He enjoyed traveling with family. He had a passion for golf and his sage advice on the golf course was especially appreciated by his wife, grandsons, and sons-in-law.

He is survived by his wife Virginia "Sis" Phinney, his daughters, Susan and her husband Chuck Foster, Nancy and her husband David Ludlow, Gail and her husband David Hall, Dawn Cotter, Kathleen and her husband David Salafia; grandchildren Jacquelyn and her husband Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Grattan, Richard DeLisle and his wife Melissa, David Young and his wife Elizabeth, Jon DeLisle, Christopher Foster, Justin Foster, Kaitlin Cotter, and Allison Jackson; great grandchildren Samuel and Kate Grattan, Alexandra and Harrison DeLisle, and Madeline Young.

He is also survived by his brother, Charles Phinney of Billerica, and preceded in death by his brothers Frank, Vernon, and Robert; and by his sister Marjorie (Phinney) Mercier.

The funeral will be held from the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn, on Saturday, January 16th at 10:30 a.m., followed by a funeral mass in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn, at 11:30. Burial with military honors will follow in Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to The Salvation Army National Headquarters, 615 Slaters Lane, P.O. Box 269, Alexandria, VA 22313, to VNA Hospice Care, 100 Sylvan Road, G500, Woburn, MA 01801; or to a charity of your choice.