TEWKSBURY John Robert “Bob” MacKinnon, age 82, a well known resident of Tewksbury for the past six decades, died Thursday, September 12, surrounded by his loving family, after a courageous 5 year battle with cancer. He was the beloved husband and best friend of Patricia Ann “Pat” (Christensen) MacKinnon, with whom he would have celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary on October 7th. He leaves a son, Paul Douglas MacKinnon and Beth Girrior of Hampton, NH; a daughter, Diane Marie Norton and Thomas Lacy of Stephen City, VA; six grandchildren, Taylor, Paige, and Hanna MacKinnon, and Alexander, Danielle, and Colette Norton; a sister, Joan Kelly and her husband Charles of Natick; and several nieces and nephews.
He was born in Watertown on March 27,1937, one of two children of the late Alexander and Christy (MacDonald) MacKinnon. After graduating from St. Patrick’s High School in Watertown, he spent two
years at Boston College, and then he enlisted into the US Army and was stationed in Paris, France as a pharmaceutical aide.
After his marriage to Pat, they moved to Tewksbury in 1961. Bob joined the Tewksbury Volunteer Fire Department and also became active in Fr. Coppen’s Council Knights of Columbus, and rose to the position of Grand Knight. Throughout their married life, they remained active in the events at St. William’s Parish. In later years, Bob also volunteered at the Tewksbury Community Pantry.
He worked for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Mass Highway Division as a District Forman, and retired after twenty-five years of service. Following his retirement he worked at UML for many years as a shuttle driver, which he thoroughly enjoyed.
Memorial Visiting Hours are Friday morning, September 20, from 9:00 until 11:00 a.m. in the Tewksbury Funeral Home, corner of 1 Dewey and 975 Main Sts. (Rte. 38) TEWKSBURY CENTER Ph. (800 in MA or 978) 851 2950. A Memorial Mass will follow at 11:30 a.m. in St. William’s Church, 1351 Main St. (Rte. 38) Tewksbury. Burial with Army honors will follow in Tewksbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Tewksbury Community Pantry, 999 Whipple Road, Tewksbury, MA 01876 are encouraged. visit: tewksburyfuneralhome.com