DONALD W. HOVEY SR.
GREENLAND, N.H. — Donald W. Hovey Sr., 96, died at his home Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012.
He was born July 9, 1916, in Morristown, Vt., one of 11 children to Sadie (Hadley) and H. Eldin Hovey. Donald served his country proudly as a career military man, having enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942.
During World War II, he took part in the Allied Invasion of Normandy and fought in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium. After the war, he served in the National Guard until he was recalled to active duty and sent to Korea. The rest of his career took Don and his family to bases in New York, Mississippi, France, California, Alaska and Delaware. While in Alaska, he worked with the Boy Scouts and was proud of surviving 30 degree below zero camping trips.
Don retired from active duty in 1971, and moved his family to Greenland, N.H., an area he had become familiar with while stationed at Grenier AFB in Manchester, N.H.
He worked at GTE Sylvania for 10 years, until his retirement in 1981. He was active in the Greenland Community Congregational Church for many years. Don was a kind-hearted man who lived a humble life with integrity and sincerity and who enjoyed making others smile and chuckle.
He is survived by a daughter, Diane Ralph and husband, Matt, of Eliot, Maine; son, Don and wife, Nicole, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; two sisters, Jean Abair and husband, Raymond, of Burlington, Vt., and Betty Bordeau and husband, Robert, of Fairfax, Vt. He was predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Dorothy (Cota) Hovey.
Calling hours are from 9 to 10 a.m., followed immediately by a funeral service at the Corbin and Palmer Funeral Home, 9 Pleasant St., Essex Junction, Vt., on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. Burial will follow in Colchester Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to a military or veterans organization of one’s choosing.
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