William E. McDonald

WALTHAM Mr. William E. McDonald of Waltham and Hillsboro, Fla., died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009, surrounded by his loving family. He was 78. Born in Newton Oct. 13, 1930, a son of the late Edward and Anne (Dowling) McDonald, Bill had lived most of his life in Waltham. During the Korean War he served with the United States Navy. After leaving the service, Bill returned to Waltham to marry his beloved Nancy M. Horne, his wife of 54 years. As Bill and Nancy started their life together, he became proprietor of the fourth generation of McDonald Plastering Company of Waltham. In addition to his responsibilities and commitment to his commercial and residential clients, Bill was a firefighter for more than 21 years with the Waltham Fire Department, retiring in 1984. Bill was a life member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 953 in Waltham, and a 40-year member of the American Legion, most recently at Post No. 162 in Deerfield Beach, Fla. He also belonged to the PFC John M. Sullivan, USMC Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 10334 in Waltham and Local No. 866 of the International Association of Fire Fighters. He and his family were also longtime members of Trinity Church (formerly First Congregational Church) on Main Street in Waltham. Bill was never one to seek personal recognition but over the many years of both providing dependable quality and professional service for his plastering clients, and public service related to the Waltham Fire Department, his reputation of character, honesty and service to others became very well known in the local community. In addition to his wife, Nancy, Bill is survived by his son Jeffrey McDonald and his wife, Kelley, of Waltham; two daughters, Cindy McDonald of Riverbrook Residence in Stockbridge and Julie Timmerman and her husband, Phil, of Matthews, N.C.; his grandchildren, Derik and Matthew Timmerman and Kaitlyn, Justin, Molly and Connor McDonald; and his great-grandchildren, Matthew and Nathaniel Timmerman. Other family members include Sandy (Horne) Hatch and her husband, Bob, of Hudson, his sister, Barbara (McDonald) King and her husband, John, of North Carolina, and many nieces and nephews. He was also a brother of the late James and Richard McDonald. Relatives and friends are invited to attend Bills funeral service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at Trinity Church, 730 Main St., Waltham. Burial will be in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham. Visiting hours are Friday, Jan. 9, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., at The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main St. (Rte. 20), Waltham. Memorial donations may be made to the Riverbrook Residence, 4 Ice Glenn Road, P.O. Box 478, Stockbridge, MA 01262. To offer condolences online, please visit www.joycefuneralhome.com.