Donald G. Atwood Jr.

Donald George Atwood, Jr. was born in Southington, Connecticut, on December 27, 1960, the son of Donald George Atwood, Sr. and Shirley J. (Libby) Atwood. He attended Wilcox Technical High School but dropped out to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. He earned his GED while in the Marine Corps. He received a medical discharge from the Marine Corps in 1978.Donald lived a hard life. He was classified as 100% disabled by the Veterans’ Administration and received a monthly military disability pension. He was further disabled by a series of medical problems for most of his life and lived in an apartment in a multiunit apartment building owned and lived in by his mother. His sister, Donna Atwood, with whom Donald had a close and loving relationship, also lived in an apartment in that building for many years.Donald was a kind, gentle, and good hearted guy who loved animals, particularly dogs. He enjoyed going to lunch with his mother, going out for coffee, and playing the lottery. As a younger man before his disabilities stopped him he enjoyed bowling and was a member of a bowling team.Donald, a lifelong smoker, developed emphysema which restricted his mobility. He then developed lung cancer. He battled lung cancer for several years eventually having to enter the Curtis Home in Meriden where his sister, Donna, visited him nearly every day. He died there on January 12, 2018. He will be buried in the Walnut Grove Cemetery in Meriden.Donald was predeceased by both of his parents and is survived by his sisters, Kathryn (Atwood) Fraas, Donna Atwood, and Colleen (Atwood) Althoff, as well as his brother Timothy Atwood, and several nieces and nephews.Donald’s family wishes to express their sincere thanks to the staff of the Curtis Home for the excellent and compassionate care they gave Donald during the time he spent there.A graveside service will be held on Friday, January 26, at 10 a.m. at Walnut Grove Cemetery in Meriden.