Rene H. Dorval

GARDNER- Rene H. Dorval died Tuesday night with his family at his side. He was born February 24, 1924, in Gardner, the son of Hector and Olive (LeBlanc) Dorval. He was a 1942 graduate of Gardner High School. He was a Sergeant in the Army Air Corps, 15th Air Force, 451st Bomb Group, during WWII. He earned the east Africa Theatre Campaign Ribbon with 8 Battle Stars. He invented a B24 bomb latch that doubled the bomb load capacity which helped reduced the duration of the European campaign. He worked most of his life as a tool and die maker in Leominster. He played football for the Gardner Merchants, was a volunteer firefighter in Gardner, a long-time member of VFW Post 905, holding many posts, including Commander, and a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Gardner. Rene was a member and officer of the Gardner Exchange club, Scout Master and volunteer in community and church activities throughout his life. He leaves his children, Kathleen Gronlund-Marks of Shirley, Renette Mogel and Michael Dorval of Worcester, Daniel Dorval of Hubbardston, Mark Dorval of Shirley, James Dorval of Milford, John Dorval of Gardner, and David Dorval of Leominster, twenty-one grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. He is survived by his brothers Leonard Dorval of Gardner, Richard Dorval of Florida, and his sisters Geraldine Dorval of Gardner, and Carol Smith of Colorado. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church, 166 Cross Street, Gardner. Calling hours will be held on Friday, October 21, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Mack Funeral Home, 91 Vernon Street, Gardner. Burial in the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Winchendon, will be held at a later date. Flowers may be sent or donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. $(document).ready(function(){ });