Obituary of Herbert F. Lyons

Herbert F. Lyons, Jr., a retired electrical and software engineer, passed away at the E. N. Rogers Memorial Veteran’s Hospital in Bedford on Sunday evening, May 1, 2016. The beloved husband of the late Ruby L. (Lovelace) he was 83 years old. Herbert was born in Boston. He was the son of the late Herbert and Ann Lyons. He was raised in the Roxbury section of Boston and as a teenager his family moved to Brookline. He was a member of Class of 1950 at Brookline High School. After high school, Herbert enlisted in the United States Army where he served during the Korean War from 1951 to 1955 achieving the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal. After the service Herbert earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from the University of Lowell. He worked as an electrical engineer at Raytheon, Lorlin Industries, and a number of other firms as an independent contractor. With an eye on the future, he studied software engineering. Much of which he learned was self-taught just by reading books. He made the switch to software and spent his last 10 years with Lucent Technologies in Westford. Herbert married Ruby Lovelace in 1954 and they settled in Burlington to raise their 5 children. Herbert loved the outdoors and as a family they would go camping and hiking throughout the Lakes Region in New Hampshire with Mt. Monadnock being one routine hiking destination. He also enjoyed canoeing. He was a “Mr. Fix It” and there wasn’t any task that he was afraid to tackle! Herbert and Ruby enjoyed traveling together and had visited various locations in Europe as well as the United States. He had an great appreciation for music and antiques. He had a constant thirst for knowledge and was always reading to broaden his horizon. It made it hard to accept that how such a knowledgeable man would have to struggled with the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease for the last years of his life. He will be remembered by his family for this love, spirit and knowledge he bestowed upon them as children as well as adults. Herbert was the loving husband of Ruby L. (Lovelace) Lyons. He was the loving father of Janice Pepler & her husband William of Scottsdale, AZ, Cheryl Musolino & her husband Vincent of Port Orange, FL, Mitchell of Methuen, Gail Coneeny & her husband Kevin of Tewksbury and Barry of Wichita, Kansas. He was predeceased by his sisters; late Nancy Clement and Theresa MacKenzie. Herbert was the proud grandfather of Christopher & Adam Mayo, Kevin & Emily Coneeny, and Zachary, Ashley, & Alexandra Lyons. He was also survived by many nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Wednesday, May 4 from 4-8 p.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. The burial will be private. Memorials in Herbert’s name may be made to the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans, New England Center and Home for Veterans, Advancement Office, 17 Court Street, P.O. Box 845257, Boston, MA 02284-5257.