Leo J. Harkins, a lifelong resident of Woburn passed away peacefully, May 3, 2019 at the Winchester hospital following a lengthy period of declining health. He was 87. Leo was the beloved husband of Beverly M. (McCall) Harkins and together they shared 63 years of marriage. Born in Woburn, Leo was the son of the late Thomas and Elizabeth (Gartland) Harkins.
Raised and educated in Woburn, Leo was a 1948 graduate of Woburn High School and was voted the wittiest personality of his class. In 1951 Leo enlisted into the United States Navy and honorably served aboard the Defense Destroyer USS Beale DDE-471 during the Korean War. Leo was very proud of his service to his country and the people he served with. Leo met the love of his life, Beverly, at St. Joseph Church in East Woburn and together they soon were married in a ceremony held at St. Joseph Church. Leo worked for a number of years as a Bacteriologist for Atlantic Gelatin in East Woburn. He then secured a job working as a talented machinist with AVCO and worked on the Apollo Project. He then began a career with the Polaroid Corp where he worked for many years and was there for the early stages and progression of the instant camera. He eventually retired from the Polaroid Corp following a very rewarding career as a machinist.
Leo loved the ocean and was extremely proud of being a property owner in Hampton Beach where he lovingly restored a pair of cottages that the family would gather at every summer spending quality time together and creating wonderful memories. Leo also enjoyed working around his home in Woburn and caring for his lawn which was always the greenest most plush lawn in the neighborhood. He loved his John Deere lawn tractor. Leo also looked forward to gathering regularly with friends for coffee and breakfast at many different local spots in town over the years. He will fondly be remembered for witty personality and story telling by his family and many friends. Leo’s greatest joy was his family and nothing made him happier than to be surrounded by those he loved. He will be greatly missed.
In addition to his wife Beverly, Leo is survived by his devoted children; Maureen MacDonald and her husband Edward of Ossipee, NH, James L. Harkins and his wife Marietta of Wakefield, Ellen Frenette and her husband Dennis of Hudson, NH, Carolyn Froding and her husband Robert of Sparta, NJ. He was the loving grandfather of Heather Olden and her husband Michael, Alison MacDonald, Lauren MacDonald and her fiancé Seth, Nathan Harkins, Nole Harkins, Chantel Freeman and her husband Adam, Shannon Small and her husband Kevin, Nicole Davis and her husband Greg, Taylor Froding and Bridget Froding. Loving great grandfather of Sawyer Olden and Caroline Davis. Brother of Mary Downey and Bernard Harkins, both of Woburn, and the late Thomas Harkins. He is further survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held from the McLaughlin - Dello Russo Family Funeral Home, 60 Pleasant St., WOBURN, Wednesday, May 8th, at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass celebrated in St. Charles Borromeo Church, 280 Main St., Woburn, at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. Services will conclude with military honors and burial at Calvary Cemetery, Winchester.