Obituary of Donald W. Fudge

Donald (Don) Wilson Fudge (1933-2024)

Donald Wilson Fudge, longtime Billerica resident, passed away on December 9, 2024.

Born September 24, 1933 in Malden, MA, son of Wilson and Parthena (Yarn) Fudge of Medford, MA, both of whom were born in Belleoram, Newfoundland, Canada.

Preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Marjorie (Stares), and his brother Benjamin, Survived by his sisters Sylvia Stratton, Nina Ross and brother Robert (Evelyn) and his 3 sons; Donald Gerald (Holly) of Redmond, WA, Gary Wilson (Lisa) of Billerica, MA and Gregg Alan (Amber) of Pittsfield, NH., as well as 5 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Dad graduated from Medford Vocational in 1951 as a Cabinetmaker and spent his entire working career with Nelson and Power, Inc. of Woburn, MA,. From the age of 16 until his retirement in 2000, over 50 years of sawdust and splinters, and he retired with all his fingers intact.

Mom was from Somerville, Dad from Medford, but their families attended the same church, Christ Church in Somerville, and that is where they met. The story is that Mom was 3 and sitting in the congregation on the day that Dad was baptized….it was meant to be. They married in 1954, during Dads service in the US Navy, 2 years on the submarine USS Tusk (SS 426) stationed out of Groton, CT. They moved to Billerica in 1964.

He was an active member of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in No. Billerica and in the Masonic Order. Dad was a Past Master Councilor of Boston Chapter, Order of DeMolay and a Past Master of Thomas Talbot Lodge of Billerica.

In the 1970’s, Mom and Dad opened a travel agency, Liberty World Travel, in Billerica. They were able to enjoy many trips themselves and help friends with their worldwide travel plans.

To escape the cold New England winters, they started vacationing in Florida for short spells and eventually purchased a home there in 2005. For 17 years they spent 6 months in FL and truly enjoyed the weather and their many friends in the “Park”, always needing to be home for Red Sox Opening Day.

Visitation will be held at Burns Funeral Home, 354 Boston Rd, Billerica, on Friday January 17th., from 1:00 to 3:00 PM and 5:00 to 8:00 PM. Relatives and friends invited. Services will be held on Saturday January 18th at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, Treble Cove Rd. N. Billerica, Saturday, January 18, at 10:00 AM. Burial will be at Fox Hill Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be directed to the Wounded Warrior Project (support.Wounded Warrior Project) or the Parkinsons Foundation (Parkinson's Foundation).