Richard J. Phelan, a resident of Burlington for 51 years, passed away at the Winchester Hospital on Wednesday, November 12, 2008. The husband of the late Joan J. (Barrett) he was 78 years old.

Dick was born, raised and educated in Nashua, NH. He was the son of the late Francis & Eva Phelan. Richard & his late wife Joan settled in Burlington in 1957 where they raised their three children. He was the co-founder of Distron Corporation an electronic manufacturing company where he worked for over 21 years. Dick loved boating and enjoyed spending time on his boat at his home in Lake Winnipesauke. He was also a fan of Frank Sinatra and enjoyed listing to his music.

Dick was the husband of the late Joan J. (Barrett). He was the loving father of Thomas R. Phelan & his wife Deborah of Hopkinton, Diane & her husband Robert Walker, Jr. of Billerica, and John R. Phelan of Los Angeles, CA. He was the grandfather of Daniel & Katie Phelan, Sarah & Christopher Walker. He was the companion of Judy Meadows of Lexington. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLIGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Monday, Nov. 17 at 10 a.m. Followed by Graveside Services at Pine Haven Cemetery, Bedford St., Burlington at 11 a.m. Visiting hours Sunday 4-7 p.m. Memorials in Dick's name may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.