…WWII Navy Veteran; 91
TEWKSBURY - On Thursday morning, November 30, Ralph A. “Red” Donnelly, age 91, peacefully departed to, in his own words, “go dance with my wife and eat chicken.” He was predeceased by his wife of forty-nine years, Louise M. (Devine) Donnelly, in 1995.
Red was born in Lowell on November 13, 1926, the youngest son of the late James J. Donnelly originally from Westmeath, Ireland, and the late Margaret E. (Foley) Donnelly originally from Leitrim, Ireland, and remained fiercely proud of his Irish heritage throughout his life. After graduation from Lowell High School, he eagerly enlisted into the U.S. Navy. He served as a Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class, and was honorably discharged in 1946. In 1984, after 38 years as a civilian employee of the Air Force, Ralph retired as Foreman of the Motor Pool at Hanscom Air Force Base. During his long career, he simultaneously engaged in a number of other pursuits including; owner of Tewksbury Town Taxi, working as a Licensed Real Estate Broker, as an Insurance Agent, and as a Registered Representative of NASDAQ.
He held membership in the American Legion, the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, the Tewksbury Golden Age Club, and was a frequent visitor to Tewksbury Senior Center where he was well known for his dance skills, and seldom missed a dance or social event.
He leaves a daughter, Sandra M. (Donnelly) (Vance) Stygles and her husband Michael of Tewksbury; a son-in-law, Ronald Pimentel of Pepperell who was husband of his late daughter, Maureen (Donnelly) Pimentel; his grandchildren, Laurel Vance of Northborough, Matthew Vance and his wife Melise of Bedford, NH, Joselin Kvetkosky and her husband Thomas of Manchester, NH, Todd Pimentel of Clinton, and Seth Pimentel of Pepperell; four great grandchildren, Alexander, Jamison, Samuel, and Grayson; several nieces and nephews; and was also predeceased by his brothers, Thomas F. Donnelly and J. Paul Donnelly.
At his request funeral services are private. Arrangements are through the Tewksbury Funeral Home. Memorials to the Tewksbury Friends of the Elderly, c/o Linda Braybant, 175 Chandler St., Tewksbury, MA 01876, will be deeply appreciated. tewksburyfuneralhome.com