Obituary

US Navy World War II Veteran

HERBERT L. NEWELL - in Woburn, Wednesday, January 13th. Beloved husband of the late Margaret (Bowles) Newell. Devoted father of Margaret E. "Peggy" Newell, Donald H. Newell and his wife Julie, James R. Newell and his wife Sharyn, all of Woburn, and the late Richard Newell. Dear brother of Frances Prest of Francestown, NH and the late Wilfred, Arthur, William and Helen Newell, Evangeline Stoddard and Thelma Marshall. Loving grandfather of eight grandchildren: Kelly, Jeffrey, Sarah, Katherine, Kristen, and Kimberly Newell, and Kevin and Corinne Murphy and three great-grandchildren: Molly and Declan Murphy and Jayson Newell. Funeral from the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn, on Tuesday, January 19th at 9:15 a.m. Funeral mass in St. Barbara's Church, 138 Cambridge Road, Woburn, at 10. Calling hours Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. Interment in Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn. Donations may be made in Mr. Newell's memory to the Perkins School for The Blind, Perkins Trust Office, 175 N. Beacon Street, Watertown, MA 02472.

OBITUARY:

Herbert L. Newell, a longtime resident of Woburn's West Side, passed away in Melrose on Wednesday, January 13th, following an extended illness. The husband of the late Margaret (Bowles) Newell, who died in 2001, he was eighty-seven years of age.

Born in East Boston, he was the son of the late Wallace and Zenith (Symonds) Newell. He was raised in Medford and attended Medford schools, later continuing his education at Northeastern University. A veteran of World War II, he served with the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Bremerton. At the time of his enlistment he was an machinist/tool maker at the Charlestown Navy Yard.

Mr. Newell worked at the Boston Naval Shipyard for over thirty-three years, retiring as Superintendent of the Central Tool Shop, and then for the U.S. Department of Defense as an industrial specialist. Certified as a manufacturing engineer by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, he went on to work for Tufts University as a property manager following his retirement from U.S. Government service.

In the 1970's, Mr. Newell was involved in restoring of the masts for the USS Constitution, and was thrilled to be able sail on a "turnaround cruise" on the historic vessel.

He and his wife Margaret, to whom he was devoted for over forty-five years until her death in 2001, took up residence in the "Kel-town" section of Woburn in 1957, where they remained and raised their family. His many skills were put to use in building an addition to his home, and he was always willing to help his friends and neighbors. A bright, intelligent, articulate gentleman, he was a member of the Woburn Lodge Elks, a member of the Shriners organization for over fifty years, and was a third degree Mason and a lifetime member of the George Campbell Post 101 American Legion. In his retirement years he enjoyed walking the mall and attending performances at the North Shore Music Center.

Along with his wife Margaret, he was preceded in death by a son, Richard Newell, three brothers, Wilfred, Arthur, and William Newell, and three sisters, Helen Newell, Evangeline Stoddard and Thelma Marshall.

Surviving are a daughter, Margaret E. "Peggy" Newell, two sons, Donald H. Newell and his wife Julie and James R. Newell and his wife Sharyn, all of Woburn, and a sister, Frances Prest of Francestown, New Hampshire. He was also the loving grandfather of eight grandchildren: Kelly, Jeffrey, Sarah, Katherine, Kristen, and Kimberly Newell, and Kevin and Corinne Murphy and three great-grandchildren: Molly and Declan Murphy and Jayson Newell.

The funeral will be held from the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn, on Tuesday, January 19th at 9:15 a.m., followed by a funeral mass in St. Barbara's Church, 138 Cambridge Road, Woburn, at 10. Interment will follow in Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn.

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

Donations may be made in Mr. Newell's memory to the Perkins School for The Blind, Perkins Trust Office, 175 N. Beacon Street, Watertown, MA 02472.