Francis McIntire Obituary

Francis E. McIntire

"Frank"

Worcester, Mass - Francis Edward "Frank" McIntire, age 90, of Worcester, was born on October 12, 1924 in Winchester, Massachusetts, eldest child of Edward and Anna (Doherty) McIntire. He grew up in Wakefield and attended Malden Catholic High School, class of 1942. A member of the greatest generation, he enrolled in Norwich University, Northfield, VT, with the class of 1946. He was drafted into the Army in the spring of 1943. He transitioned to the Army Air Corps where he trained and qualified as a Navigator for the European Campaign but was redirected west to participate in the Pacific Campaign and was training in Arizona when WWII ended. He achieved the rank of Second Lieutenant, U. S. Army Air Corps. He was a lifelong aficionado of all things aviation and the United States Air Force. Upon mustering out of the service, he resumed his studies at Norwich where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1948, but with the class of 1946. He loved and supported Norwich University his entire life. He was also a 61 year member of the American Legion Post 63, Wakefield, MA, and a recognized member of the Sons of American Legion. He also frequently participated and contributed to the U.S. Air Force Academy organizations; and he is recognized through a brick at the National World War II Museum located in New Orleans.

Immediately upon graduation, he joined his family's business, the McIntire Brass Works. They supplied a wide spectrum of firefighting nozzles and devices primarily made from brass. Many firehouses still have the original McIntire Brass Works sliding pole developed by his grandfather F. N. McIntire.

Frank met and married his wife of 63 years, the former Dorothy Ann Killian. They moved to central Massachusetts, ultimately Worcester, where Frank worked in sales providing hydraulic and pneumatic equipment to the many manufacturing concerns throughout the region. He later continued his sales career in real estate. He and Dorothy raised seven sons together: LtCol Francis E. McIntire Jr, USAF(ret) (Patricia); CAPT William K. McIntire, USNR(ret) (Claire); Laurence J. McIntire; LtCol Edward J. McIntire, USAFR(ret)(Lucy); Gregory B. McIntire (Illona); MAJ Theodore B. McIntire USAF(ret); and CAPT Andrew R. McIntire, Harbor Pilot in the Port of Charleston (Kimberly).

In addition to his wife Dorothy, their sons and daughters-in-law, Frank is survived by 20 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, Frank was predeceased by a sister, Mary, and a brother, Gerard, and one great grandchild, Emmanuelle. Frank passed peacefully from this earth on March 7, 2015.

Calling Hours for Mr. McIntire will be held on Friday, March 13, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester. His Funeral will be held on Saturday, March 14, from the funeral home with a procession to church for a Mass at 10 a.m., in Immaculate Conception Church, 353 Grove Street, Worcester. Interment with Military Honors will follow in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory be made to the Nursing Program at Norwich University, 158 Harmon Drive, Northfield, VT 05663, or to your choice of charity.

There is an online register where the family can receive your condonlence messages at

www.mercadantefuneral.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Worcester Telegram & Gazette from Mar. 8 to Mar. 12, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Francis McIntire

8 Entries

Brad Greason

March 15, 2015

My sincere condolences to you Dotty and to your remarkable family. Frank was one of a kind whose company I thoroughly enjoyed. I fondly recall our days at Norwich and those times that we got together in the following years. In retrospect they were far too few. May you all go on with your lives with gratitude for having had him for all those wonderful years.

March 15, 2015

O Loving Creator, You have showed us that death is but the gateway to a more glorious life and that we must not fear its coming; and we know, also, that neither life nor death can separate us from your love. Assure us yet again that our comrade Francis McIntire departed is not lost to us, but sharing new life with you in the kingdom of our Father, where we shall in your good time be reunited. We know him to be with you forever. Amen.

David L. Johnson Jr.
Chaplain
Detachment of Massachusetts
Sons of The American Legion

Jo-Anne Cronin

March 14, 2015

Though I didn't know Frank McInire very well, I knew Dot through REAM (Retired Educators Association of Massachusetts), bur more importantly as the mother of seven very intelligent
young men some of whom I was fortunate to have had as students in my math class at Forest-Grove Junior High. It was a real pleasure to have had them in class. To all of you I hope that as you struggle through this difficult time, know that he is looking down on all of you and beaming with pride at all you have each accomplished in your lives and with you families. Dot, I know your boys and their families will be there for you as time passes. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

Ray & Kathy Le Boeuf

March 14, 2015

Our family thoughts and prayers are with during this time of sadness. We are friends of Dave and Ann and had just learned of your loss.

Ted McIntire

March 11, 2015

March Forth Order Number 506

Frank Mcintire, 90 years old, was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The family was mobilizing to respond. One brother and a sister-in-law had already extended their visit back to our childhood home town when dad had gone into the hospital, and now two other brothers had returned home to ensure all was going as well as possible for our father and for our mother. On the fourth day since dad's admission to the hospital, our oldest brother sat at the breakfast table and spread out the newspaper before him. He quickly sat straight up and noted in a loud and steady tone, We have our order for the day, March 4th. What's the order? I asked him. March Forth that's the date, and that's the order for the day. Good one I said. Even during the most stressful and potentially threatening of times I appreciated this display of quick wit, lighthearted theatrics, subtle messages, and concise insight (traits cherished by dad and his seven sons, all of whom shared a combined total of 80 plus years of military service), but I did not realize there was more to come.

By four o'clock that afternoon Frank McIntire had been moved from the ICU to the Acute Care Unit (ACU) and family members and hospital staff were gathered around the bed of my father discussing his severe health challenges and the possible courses of action that we thought would be the best. Dad had been in slowly declining health over the last year, but he hardly complained. During the intervening days since his emergency admission to the hospital Frank had been able to occasionally open his eyes, squeeze our hands, listen to us, sometimes shake his head, and occasionally tried to speak; half the time we could decipher his soft garbled words, half the time it was impossible. Our discussions with the doctors and nurses lasted a full two hours, but at a few minutes after 5 PM Frank McIntire gave his one and only input to the meeting. Dad spoke up and said three words as distinctly, loudly and clearly as any other person in the room - Let me die.

This was the only and last time Frank McIntire spoke up before he peacefully passed away on March 7th, 2015. I have spent considerable time over the intervening days meditating on these three words and gleaning dad's full meaning and intentions with this, his last and very important message for us. My immediate and initial understanding of his words was that he had lived a full life and was ready to move on. Now I have a more complete and comprehensive understanding.

Above and beyond all his accomplishments, all his escapades, all his stories, and anything anyone else might remember about him, Frank McIntire offered us his final wisdom; or for me his one, only, and best order. Dad never told his sons what to do; instead he tried his best to advise us with unforgettable and seemingly unending lectures which sometimes appeared to us toddlers and adolescents as having convoluted explanations and came complete with its own unique terminology, the totality of which we sons sometimes jokingly numbered into the hundreds. But with his final dying words he gave (1) one announcement (2) to everyone present, on (the 3rd month) March 4th at 5:06 PM for his (7) seven sons, and anyone else who could grasp and appreciate his wisdom:

Live and love your life to the fullest, and when the time comes, have no fear to continue the journey of your eternal life.

From Frank McIntire to all of us, this is his one and only March Forth Order 506.

Carol Kalil-Hamilton

March 10, 2015

rest in peace...many years ago we were in an engineering group together...

Maureen Brennan

March 10, 2015

Dear Dorothy

I know Frank is smiling down on you & with you in all you continue to do. He was a thoughtful friend and will kind person. Even though he may not be able to be physically present with you every day, he will be present in all the little things that remind us of all his kindnesses. I am glad I could call him my friend and co-worker. Frank always knew how to brighten each any every day with his smile and positive attitude.

Love, Maureen

Sandi Harris Sheets

March 9, 2015

I struggle with words to adequately describe my feelings about Frank, other than to say I will miss our conversations greatly. He was a very special person and I am eternally grateful that he was part of our "family" of special, meaningful relationships.
With love, Sandi Sheets

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