Owen F. Dolan Sr.

Owen F. Dolan, Sr. January 14, 1925 - May 8, 2009 NORWICH - Mr. Owen F. Dolan, Sr., 84, of Norwich died Friday, May 8, surrounded by his loving family. Mr. Dolan was born January 14, 1925 in Pawtucket, R.I., son of the late Leo and Sarah (Menagh) Dolan. He was married to the love of his life, Margaret Mary Clarkin on July 19, 1947. Upon graduation from St. Raphael's High School, Mr. Dolan enlisted in the U.S. Navy flight program and subsequently commissioned as a naval aviator. Following his service on the USS Midway, he was sent to Brown University by the U.S. Navy for two years. When the Korean War broke out, he was sent to his squadron on the West Coast. Assigned to the USS Princeton, he was a "Sky Raider" pilot flying over 40 combat missions in support of Army and Marine ground troops. Upon his return to the West Coast, he was critically injured in a Navy plane crash in Nevada and permanently retired from the Navy in 1953. He returned to college after a year in the hospital, graduating from URI with a degree in electrical engineering in 1956, and started work at Electric Boat in Groton. He retired in 1989 after 33 years. Besides his wife, Mr. Dolan is survived by five sons, Owen F. Dolan, Jr. and Paula of Alexandria, Virginia; Patrick W. Dolan and Eileen of Norwich; Michael A. Dolan of Norwich; John J. Dolan and Kathleen of Salem, and Joseph T. Dolan and Diane of Lebanon, and three daughters, Maureen and William McMullen of Sudbury, MA; Catherine and Brian Carroll of Lisbon, and Ann and Greg Arpin of Canterbury. He was the proud "Pa" to 15 grandchildren - Meagan and Matthew McMullen, Casey Dolan, Sarah Dolan-Adamec, Jim and Mary Dolan; Micaela and Daniel Carroll; Kaitlyn and Jake Arpin; Colleen and Kevin Dolan; and Carley, Shannon, and Liam Dolan. He is also survived by a sister Rosalie Meehan and her husband Leo, and numerous nieces and nephews from the Meehan, McDonald, and Clarkin clans. Dad was a devoted Red Sox fan, growing up two blocks from the present location of McCoy Stadium. His favorite player was Jimmy Foxx. He delighted in his children and grandchildren and the family get-togethers filled with stories and laughter. Mr. Dolan was a communicant of St Patrick's since 1956. Visitation 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Labenski Funeral Home, 107 Boswell Ave., Norwich, where the funeral will assemble on Monday at 9 a.m. and proceed to a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Patrick with interment to follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Taftville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to either Hospice of S.E. Ct., 227 Dunham St., Norwich, CT. 06360 or to St. Vincent dePaul Place, 10 Railroad Place, Norwich, CT. 06360.