Colonel David F. Wall USMC (Ret.)

Colonel David F. Wall, USMC (Ret.) - passed away suddenly on Monday, February 19th at the age of 80. He leaves behind his beloved and cherished wife of 57 years, Gerry Palmisciano Wall of Methuen, MA, his son Christopher Wall of Somerset, MA, and his three daughters and their families, Jennifer and Drew Shelby of Worcester, MA, Jessica and Ryan Gallagher of Lowell, MA, and Deirdre and John Ellar, of Lowell, MA. He was a cherished and proud grandfather to Mikaela Shelby and her fiancé Ryan Pivonka, Christopher Shelby, Olivia and Jack Gallagher, Grace and Sophie Wall, and Miles and Leo Ellar. He is pre-deceased by his parents Frank and Grace Wall of Woburn, MA, and his siblings Mary Denise Wall of Woburn and Hampton, NH, and Gerard (Gerry) Wall of Woburn, and Salem, NH.

A proud family man, David also leaves behind his nieces and nephews Andrew Wall and Julie (Wall) Couture, Lynn (Palmisciano) McEntire, Jim Palmisciano, Mathew Palmisciano, PJ (Paul) Palmisciano and their beautiful families, his sister-in-law Susan Wall, and his brothers- in-law Bill and Paul Palmisciano and their wives Judi and Jeanne, as well as countless cousins, friends, Hibernian brothers, and of course his fellow brothers- and sisters-in-arms, his Marine Corps family.

Always a man of action and intent, Col. Wall was actively involved in many civic, cultural and faith-based organizations, including the Ancient Order of Hibernians of Manchester, NH, The Wardroom Club of Boston, Building Dreams for Marines, the Rotary Club of Bedford, NH, and St. Francis Parish in Dracut. Throughout the past ten years, he served as a tour leader for Military Historic Tours and conducted excursions throughout several European and Asian countries with deep military war histories. He was an avid civil war history buff, the collector of family genealogy, and he loved to travel.

A proud Woburnite, he attended St. Charles Borromeo for grammar school. He then attended Keith Academy in Lowell before he left home to attend Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH. After graduation, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and attended Officer Candidate School. He and Gerry married in 1966 and immediately moved to Monterey, CA for Dave to attend Vietnamese language school before serving in the Vietnam War. Col. Wall served in active duty for four years and active reserve for 23. He officially retired from the military in 1992.

Although Col. Wall's life actively involved military service, he spent his professional career as a high-level banking and business executive, holding the positions of vice president, president, and CFO in a variety of industries. David and Gerry lived in several locations throughout their lives, including Washington, D.C, Virginia, Rhode Island, Illinois, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. He obtained his MBA from Bryant College in Smithfield, RI and had a special place in his heart for Newfound Lake, New Hampshire.

A Funeral Mass will be held in St Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn on Thursday, February 29th, at 11:30 a.m. followed by interment and military honors in Calvary Cemetery, Winchester. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to calling hours on Wednesday, February 28th, from 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. in the LYNCH-CANTILLON FUNERAL HOME 263 Main St., Woburn. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Building Dreams For Marines P.O. Box 1704 Nashua, NH 03061, a non-profit organization established to provide life-enhancing home and vehicle modifications to Marines and other service members living with mobility challenges.