William Albert Finch | 1925 - 2014 | Obituary

William Albert Finch

July 4, 1925 - July 16, 2014

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William A. “Bill” Finch, 89, of Swampscott, passed from this life peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 after a long and brave battle with Prostate Cancer. Born in London, England on July 4th 1925, he was the 3rd of four children and the only son of the late William and Katherine (Mackey) Finch. A long-time resident of Marblehead, he emigrated from England to Canada before settling in Marblehead in the late 1950’s where he became a US Citizen.

He grew up and was educated in Dagenham, England where he worked for several years as a mechanical engineer for the local Ford Motor Company plant. In 1949 he married his childhood sweetheart, Nora Patricia “Pat” Dorling with whom he shared the next 65 years.

He and Pat were long-time members of Clifton Lutheran Church in Marblehead and he was involved with the Boy Scouts, the Red Cross (as a multi-gallon blood donor) and a member of the Marblehead Masons.

He worked for over 30 years at GTE Sylvania in Danvers as a design engineer, ending his career developing quartz lighting equipment. He had many work achievements in his field including several patents from the US Government. He retired in 1986 to spend time with his children and grandchildren and to travel with his wife.

He loved the water and would often drive out to the lighthouse and the beaches in Marblehead, especially during storms when the waves were high to watch the power of the sea. He never missed an invitation to go sailing or to take a walk along the beach with his children and grandchildren. He was an avid skier, hanging up his poles at the young age of 82.

He and Pat loved exploring and after retirement, they traveled to places they had never been including parts of the United States, Egypt and Israel, the Canadian Rockies, central and northern Europe, Thailand and China.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his three sisters, Eileen, Lily and Joyce, his niece Claire of London, England and his grandson Brandon Finch of Marblehead.

He is survived by his wife Pat of Swampscott, their daughter Ann and her husband Jim Magarian of Peabody, their son Bruce and his husband Keith Reimann of Marblehead, their son David and his wife Nancy of Houston, Texas, their son Mark and his wife Nancy of Moorestown, NJ, their son Scott and his wife Ann Marie of Marblehead and their daughter Laura and her husband Chris Small of Marblehead.

He is also survived by his grandson, Dennis Magarian and his wife Erika of Weymouth, MA, his granddaughter Laura Ann Magarian of Revere, MA, his grandsons Robert and Brian Finch and granddaughter Lauren Finch of Moorestown, NJ, grandsons Corey, Kyle and Connor Finch of Marblehead, and granddaughter Eleanore Small of Marblehead. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews in England and Canada.

Mr. Finch’s Funeral Services will be held on Monday, July 21, 2014 at the Clifton Lutheran Church, 150 Humphrey St., Marblehead at 11:00 A.M. visiting hours will be held on Sunday July 20, 2014 at the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St., (cor of North St.) from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be addressed to Care Dimensions of the North Shore (Hospice) or the Clifton Lutheran Church Foundation. For additional information or on line guest book please call 781-631-8887 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.

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