Malcolm E. Dudley

Malcolm Dudley lived quite the life. Born in 1924, he resided in Massachusetts nearly all of his 101 years but was a man of the world. He was stationed in the South Pacific while serving in the Navy during World War II, worked extensively in the Middle East and Europe during his career as a civil engineer, and explored many countries with his wife of 76 years, Ann, by his side. Still, his favorite place on earth was always home.

Malcolm passed away peacefully at his home in South Attleboro, Massachusetts, on Friday, January 23, 2026. He leaves daughters Sharie Lafleur, Lauri Pappas, Pam Holland, Andrea Belfiore and Donna Walker; sons-in-law Harris Lafleur, Mike Welsch, and Jimmy Walker; grandchildren Allison Valchuis (Michael Chapman) and great-granddaughters Juno and Cleo; Mark Holland (Jessica Holland) and great-granddaughter Claire; and Danny Holland (Ashlyn Holland). His beloved wife Ann passed away in 2023.

Malcolm joined the Navy while a teenager and served aboard the USS Denver as a Fire Controlman - the foundation of a ship’s combat readiness, according to the U.S. Navy. He was proud of his decorated military career, which ended after the Denver was torpedoed in November of 1943.

Returning home to Massachusetts, Malcolm studied civil engineering at Tufts University, graduating in 1947 and marrying Ann on June 16 of that year. He embarked on a career that included stints with the city of Boston’s Public Facilities Department as its first Director and as a Vice President of Sonesta Hotels and ran several of his own companies before “retiring” to Sandwich, MA. Still, he continued to keep busy well into his 80s, working as an expert witness in construction cases, as a tutor, doing home inspections, and even as a driver for a Cape Cod transportation service.

Malcolm was also a prolific writer of short stories, some of them compiled in the Tanbark Collections, 1 and 2, and was published in Women’s World and the Sunday magazine of the Providence Journal. He enjoyed reading, golf and travel, and loved a horseback ride through the woods or a glass of good red wine by the fire.

But of everything Malcolm experienced in his life, his most cherished moments always included his family. He was fiercely proud of his children and grandchildren, and adored his wife. His only real regret was that he was not always the best at showing people how he felt. He will be missed.

Family and friends are welcome to gather at the MacDonald Funeral Home, 1755 Ocean Street in Marshfield at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2026 for an hour of visitation, which will conclude with a funeral procession to the Couch Memorial Cemetery, where Malcolm will be laid to rest with a graveside service and Navy Funeral Honors.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to TAKE2. The link is https://secure.givelively.org/donate/take2-second-career-thoroughbred-program-inc