John R. McKinnon
...retired Wang executive; 84
TEWKSBURY - John R. McKinnon, 84, a former Wang Laboratories executive who oversawinternational production for the company, died unexpectedly at Saints Memorial Medical Centerin Lowell, Tuesday afternoon, Oct.22. He was the husband of Virginia G. (Watson) McKinnon,with whom he had celebrated a 63rd wedding anniversary this past April 21st.
He was born in Surrey, England, July 24, 1918, a son of the late John A. and Rose A.(Swansborough) McKinnon. He emigrated to the U.S. as a child, and lived the greater part of hislife in Tewksbury. Since his retirement, he has divided his time between Tewksbury and his riverfront home "Riverhaven" in Washington, NH.
During WWII, he graduated from the U.S. Maritime Academy on Gallups Island in Boston. Heserved as a radio officer aboard merchant ships throughout the war.
He was hired by Dr. An Wang as the sixth employee of Wang Laboratories in 1953. During themeteoric rise and expansion of Wang, he was responsible for the corporate move to Tewksbury. He later relocated to Taiwan to establish the production facilities for the company in Asia. He retired from the company as a Vice President in 1979.
Mr. McKinnon was a long-term member of the Tewksbury Rotary Club, serving in all chairsincluding President of the club. He was also a Paul Harris Fellow, the highest award bestowed byRotary International.
He was a communicant of St. William’s Church.
Besides his wife, he is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Edward J. and his wifeVirginia A. (Eagleson) McKinnon of Acton, CA, William A. and his wife Susan (Cote) ofAntrim, NH, Charles H. and his wife Marylou (Sieczkowski) McKinnon of Derry, NH, a daughterand son-in-law Patricia A. and her husband Stephen Shepard of Tewksbury, a daughter-in-law,Pamela (Johnson-McKinnon) Weir of No. Chelmsford, a sister-in-law Rita McKinnon of Fairfield,CA, 19 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren. He was expecting the birth of his eighth greatgrandchild in March.
He was also father of the late John R. McKinnon who died in 1969.
His Funeral Mass was held Oct. 25, in St. William’s Church. Interment was inTewksbury Cemetery