Desmond W. Doyle, 91, of Fryeburg, Maine, formerly of New Bedford, died Thursday January 18, 2007 at Fryeburg Healthcare Center after a long illness. He was the husband of the late Eleanor J. (Selleck) Doyle.
Born in Dublin, Ireland, the son of the late Robert R. and Annie E. (O'Brien) Doyle, he lived in New Bedford for most of his life before moving to Maine several months ago.
He was a member of Grace Episcopal Church.
Mr. Doyle was a Lieutenant on the New Bedford Fire Department for many years until his retirement in 1974. He also had been an area manager for Field Enterprise Educational Corporation.
He was a member of the New Bedford Firefighters Association, the Massachusetts Firefighters Association, and the American Legion Post 166 in Fairhaven.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Force participating in the Battles of Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, the Ardennes, Central Europe, and the European Air Offensive. He was a recipient of the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign ribbon, the Distinguished Unit badge, and the Good Conduct medal.
Survivors include a son, William D. Doyle of Center Lovell, ME; a daughter, Jane E. Broughton and her husband David of Fairhaven; two sisters, Anne Owen and Elizabeth d'Avignon, both of Dartmouth; three grandchildren, Matthew Doyle and his wife Laurel, Jason Doyle, and Kyle Broughton and his wife Kerrie; and a great-grandson, John Doyle.
He was the brother of the late Dorothy E. Doyle and Gladys Kelley.
Visiting hours will be on Monday from 4-6 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Funeral services and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Grace Episcopal Church Afterschool Program, 133 School St., New Bedford, MA 02740. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.