Howard F. Donovan Jr., 83

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Howard Frederick Donovan Jr., 83, of Mohawk Trail died Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016, at his home.

Born in North Adams on July 3, 1932, a son of Howard and Vivian Wright Donovan, he attended schools in North Adams and graduated from Drury High School.

An Army veteran, he was stationed at what was then Camp Pickett in Blackstone, Va .  
 
Mr. Donovan was employed for 25 years as a purchasing agent for the former Sprague Electric Co. He then was employed at Sears Roebuck for two years and retired from the Berkshire Gas Co. in 1994 after 15 years as a marketing representative.
 
He was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church, for which he was an usher, vestry member, lay reader, Eucharist minister and verger. He was an avid golfer and was a member of the former North Adams Country Club and later of Forest Park Country Club in Adams. He was a member of Frank R. Stiles Post 125 American Legion.
 
In 1998, he and his wife retired to North Fort Myers, Fla., spending five months in North Adams each year for a decade. They returned to North Adams permanently in 2008. While in Florida, Mr. Donovan was a member of Pine Lakes Country Club.

He and his wife, the former Ruth Peterhansel, were married on June 9, 1956, in the former St. Francis' Church.

Besides his wife of 59 years, he leaves his daughter, Susan Robare and her husband, Christopher, of Vernon, Conn.; and a brother, John F. Donovan of Holly Springs, N.C.

FUNERAL NOTICE — Funeral services for Mr. Donovan will be held Thursday, Feb. 18, at 11 a.m. at Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams.

A calling hour will be held Thursday from 10 to 11. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested for All Saints Church through the funeral home.