Obituary of Donald Ganley

Donald W. “Doey” Ganley, an active member of the community of Burlington, passed away at his home with his family by his side on Sunday afternoon, July 7, 2013. The beloved husband of 67 years of Iona (Skelton) he was 87 years old. Doey was born in Woburn. He was one 15 children born to the late George and Bertha Ganley. His family lived in Woburn for a number of years before moving to the Winnmere section of Burlington when Doey was in the 9th grade. Doey enlisted in the United States Navy on September 25, 1943, at the beginning of his Junior Year at Burlington High School. He served in the U. S. Navy Armed Guard providing anti-aircraft protection for the ships of the Merchant Marines. Most of that time he served in the Southern Europe theater and the South Pacific. He was the recipient of the World War II Victory Medal, the American Area Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Medal and the European African Middle Eastern Medal. In 2010 he was recognized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States for his service to this country. He was a member of the American Legion and the VFWS. Doey and his wife Iona married in 1946 and settled in Burlington and raised their 3 sons. He worked for many years at Johnson Bros and Arnold Fisher Company in Woburn. He then went on to work for the Burlington School System as a custodian at both the Fox Hill School and Francis Wyman Middle School. Doey was very involved in sports in the community of Burlington. He played varsity football in 1942. He had 40 years of service to Burlington High School Football where he was responsible for “moving the chains” at the football games. Doey was very proud of the fact that he never missed a game. He managed Little League Baseball for eighteen years before moving on to the Babe Ruth and Connie Mack leagues. Doey was also one of the founders of Pop Warner Football in Burlington. He was known for attending over 7000 Burlington High School sporting events. In recognition for all of this, Doey had the honor of being part of the first group to be inducted into the Burlington High School Athletic Hall of Fame! The Town of Burlington recognized WW II veterans who left Burlington High School between the dates of September 1940 – December 1946, without obtaining their high school diplomas, to serve their country. Doey was presented his Burlington High School diploma at the Hall of Fame Awards Banquet. Besides his involvement in Burlington sports, Doey was an original Town Meeting Member when Burlington changed their town charter to the representative form of town meeting. He was very involved in his sons’ lives and in later years his grandchildren and great grandchildren’s lives. His grandchildren and great grandchildren were his pride and joy! Doey was the beloved husband of 67 years of Iona (Skelton). Loving father of Donald Jr. & his wife Janet , Paul & his wife Nancy all of Burlington and the late Robert. Brother of Charlene Hagan and Gerald Ganley both of Burlington and the late Pearl Parsons, William, George, John, Thomas, Warren, Ruth Hill, James, Robert, R. Stephen, Richard and David. Proud grandfather of Donald III, Kenneth, Douglas, Pamela Kenn, Amy Redmond, Jillian Lynch, Robert Jr., Laura, Paul Jr. and Matthew. Also survived by 7 great grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held at the United Church of Christ Congregational, 6 Lexington St., Burlington on Friday, July 12 at 10 a.m. Relatives & friends respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Doey’s name may be made to the Robert B. Ganley Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Northern Bank & Trust, 13 Center St., Burlington, MA 01803.