Donald H. Higgins

Donald H. Higgins Athol- Donald Howard Higgins, 89, of Walnut Street, died Saturday, October 25, 2014 at UMass Memorial Medical Center-University Campus in Worcester Don was born December 4, 1924, the son of Henry Howard and Grace (Halberg) Higgins. He has lived in Athol all of his life, graduating from Athol High School in 1942. From there he went on to graduate from Proctor Academy in 1943 and joined the Army in June of the same year. While in the Army he served in the European Theatre-Omaha Beach- during the Battle of the Bulge. He was discharged as a Sargent in March of 1946. Following his service in the Army he went on to graduate from New England Aircraft School as a licensed FAA mechanic and private pilot and worked for Northern Airlines and Davis Airways. In 1948 he married Pauline Farnsworth and returned home to work at J.F. Higgins and Co Furniture and Funeral Home. In 1959 he purchased the family business with his brother Charles. Throughout his life he was involved in the community as well as various clubs and organizations. He was chairman of the troop committee for BSA troop 18 American Legion, Camping Treasurer for Campfire Girls at Camp Wiyaka for 10 years, received father of the year award from Campfire Girls. He was a former member and Secretary/treasurer of the Athol Lions Club, former member of the Athol Rotary Club, a member of the North Quabbin Lodge of Masons A.F. & A.M. for over 50 years, a member of the Starrett Memorial United Methodist Church, former member and past president of the Packard Heights Assoc., member and treasurer of the Athol/Orange Aero Club for 40 years, former treasurer of the Athol Savings Bank, former member Athol-Orange Coast Guard Aux and boating inspector, member of the uptown fire station building committee. Don is survived by a daughter Pamela Higgins of Athol, a son, Steven Higgins and his wife (Karen) of Conway, SC; three grandsons, Jeremy Higgins and his wife Haley, Ryan Williams and his wife Lindsay and Arik Higgins and his wife Sarah and a granddaughter, Cassandra Coy and her husband Chad, 12 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Pauline B. (Farnsworth) Higgins in 2013, his brother, Charles W. Higgins in 2011 and his sister-in-law, Elizabeth J. Higgins in 2014.      A memorial service with military honors will be held Thursday, November 6, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. at Higgins-O’Connor Funeral Home, 146 Main St., Athol.  A private burial will be at Silver Lake Cemetery in the spring.  In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations in Don’s name be made to: The Athol Animal Shelter, for the care of animals, c/o Athol Police Dept., 280 Exchange St., Athol, MA  01331.  For more information or to share a memory with the family go to: www.higginsoconnorfuneralhome.com. $(document).ready(function(){ });