NOLAN, Edward Charles passed away peacefully on March 28, 2016. Edward was born in 1923 in Dorchester, Massachusetts to his parents James E. & Josepha (McSweeney) Nolan. The second of four sons. He is survived by his devoted wife, Mary (Kelleher) formerly of Jamaica Plain and his three children Marybeth (Michael) Waters, Nancy (Brian) Mueller and Edward C. Nolan, Jr. “Ted” (Laura). He is also survived by his grandchildren Briana McLoud (Jason), John (Tami) Waters, Thomas Waters and McCallister Gayle. Great-grandchildren Rowan and Ella McLoud, and many nieces and nephews on the East and West coasts. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers James, Richard and Robert Nolan and nephew James J. Nolan, Jr., brother in law, John P. (Jack) Kelleher.
Ed attended Hyde Park High School and then served as a Sergeant in the Army Air Corp 211th Base Unit, during WWII with an honorable discharge in 1945. He then enlisted in the Air Force Reserves and served until 1949. He was employed with GE as a jet engine tester and then was hired on as a mechanic with United Airlines in 1955…his dream job, for he loved planes. He met his wife Mary at a dance at the Boston City Club and they married in 1950, remaining devoted to each other for the rest of their 65 years together. They continued to live in Beverly until his transfer with United Airlines in 1955 to the San Francisco Bay Area, settling in Pacifica until his retirement in 1988. Shortly thereafter, in 1990 he and Mary moved to Vancouver, Washington where they resided for the next 25 years. Ed and Mary spent many years traveling domestically and abroad. They both shared their love of boating and especially sailing San Francisco Bay in their Cal29 sailboat.
He was a kind, patient and loving man who loved his wife and family first and foremost. His nephew Gerard Nolan shared “I always thought of him as the happy, caring, fun and loving Uncle.”
It was upon their visit to the San Francisco Bay Area last August to visit family and celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary, that Ed had a series of health challenges over the next eight months that prevented him from returning home to Vancouver.
Ed was loved and will be missed by all who knew him. Our family is thankful for all the love and support family and friends have shown us. Special thanks to the staff at Cedar Lane Care Home in Montara and the Coastside Adult Day Health Center in Half Moon Bay, California.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, April 8, 2016 at 11:30am at St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church, 2078 Centre Street, West Roxbury. Preceded by a visit with the Nolan Family from 10:00 at The Gormley Funeral Home, 2055 Centre Street, West Roxbury. Interment at family gravesite at St. Josephs Cemetery, 990 LaGrange Street, West Roxbury.
Memorial Donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.