Donald Meiklejohn

WILLIAMSTOWN -- Donald James Meiklejohn, 91, of 72 Benlise Drive died Saturday at Sweet Brook Care Centers in Williamstown.

Born in North Adams on Aug. 16, 1916, son of Thomas and Ada Squire Meiklejohn, he graduated from Drury High School in 1934 and from the former Bliss Business College in North Adams in 1935.

An Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, he enlisted in May 1943 and took college training at Michigan State College in Lansing. He served as an aircraft engineering technician with the 601st Air Engineering Squadron, 385th Air Service Group, in the Asiatic-Pacific theater and attained the rank of staff sergeant. He was honorably discharged March 10, 1946, and was awarded many campaign medals.

Mr. Meiklejohn was employed by the former Sprague Electric Co. for 46 years, retiring in 1982 as corporate manager of the industrial engineering department. He oversaw the industrial engineering activities of the 16 Sprague plants in the United States, four plants in Europe and one each in Canada and Mexico. At the time of his retirement, the company called him "The Father of Value Engineering at Sprague." Following his retirement, he served as a consultant to the Sprague European plants.

He worked for the former Carrier Coke and Lumber Co. in North Adams before joining Sprague.

Mr. Meiklejohn was a lifelong member of First Congregational Church of North Adams, serving as deacon, as trustee and as Cub Scout master of the church's troop. He also served three terms as treasurer and was chairman of the building committee for the structure on Ashland Street that currently houses the church offices and six retail stores. He was a member of the Sprague Quarter Century and Management clubs and of the North Adams Santa Fund committee, which was established by the Sprague Management Club and the North Adams Transcript.

He was a member and chief of Scottish Clan MacIntyre of North Adams and served as deputy royal chief of the National Order of Scottish Clans. He enjoyed skiing and playing golf and was a 40-year member of Taconic Golf Club. He also was a member of Richard A. Ruether Post 152 American Legion.

He and his wife, the former Ruth Jane Brown, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Aug. 23. They were married at St. John's Episcopal Church in North Adams.

Besides his wife, he leaves a son, Thomas William Meiklejohn of South Windsor, Conn.; a daughter, Lynn M. Hall of South Salem, N.Y.; and four grandchildren.

FUNERAL NOTICE -- Services for Donald James Meiklejohn, who died Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007, will be Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church in North Adams. Burial with military honors will follow in Eastlawn Cemetery, Williamstown. There will be no calling hours. Memorial donations are suggested for First Congregational Church or the Alzheimer's Disease Association, both in care of FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS, 74 Marshall St., North Adams, MA 01247, which is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Meiklejohn also leaves a daughter-in-law, Meg Meiklejohn; a son-in-law, Douglas Hall; four grandchildren, Rachel A. and David J. Meiklejohn, and Megan I. and Michael J. Hall. He was predeceased by his sisters, Evelyn Smith and Marion Meiklejohn.