Donald R. Billings died Nov. 4 after suffering a severe stroke. He was 84 and his loving family was at his side. Donald was the son of the late Rita (Introvigne) Billings and Raymond Billings Sr., the beloved husband of Nancy (Knight) Billings for 58 years, and the father of David Billings and Amy Billings.

Donald graduated from Oak Bluffs High School, and following his tour of duty in Korea worked for White Brothers Construction Company and Bergeron’s Garage. He attended Volkswagen School in Butler, Pa. He later purchased the Western Auto business, which he ran for many years in Oak Bluffs with his dad, his son David, and Brion McGroarty. Later Amy joined David in what is now Cottage City Outdoor Power and Home Appliance Store on Circuit avenue.

Donald was always active in his children’s lives. He was the former president of the Oak Bluffs Business Association, and held offices on the shellfish committee and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He was a Eucharistic minister at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church and had received the Marian Medal for his service.

He was a member of the Oak Bluffs Fire Department for 40 years, captain for the last 20. He was very proud of his accomplishment, with his longtime friend Billy Norton, in acquiring his company’s original 1929 Maxim fire engine and creating the fire museum with much help from many friends and caring people. Donald was happy to serve on the current building committee for the new fire station and to protect his museum.

Donald spent some time in Maine in the early years, when Nancy was in school there. He contemplated taking over his father in law’s business in Skowhegan, selling and installing barn cleaners and milking machines. However after spending several days repairing the machines on piles of frozen manure at 10 and 20 degrees below zero, he announced that he would rather scallop the rest of his life! The family came home that June to find the SSA boat strike in progress. But a friendly fisherman gave them a ride home on his boat, along with their belongings, baby, dog and canary. Everyone enjoyed a few weeks of unusually light summer traffic till the strike ended.

Donald is survived by his son David and daughter in law Anita, daughter Amy and son in law Chris Welch, and grandchildren Jaime Lynn Schwab and her husband Jason, Samantha White Billings, Joshua Donald Billings and Andrew Welch. He is also survived by his special granddaughters Keri Lynn Thomas, her husband Delmar and her daughter Corinna and Kara Best and her son Christian; nephew Michael Billings of Millis and Vineyard Haven; sister and brother in law Shirley and John Cooledge of Naples, Fla., and cousins in Connecticut, Maine, and Florida. He was predeceased by beloved sons Donald Jr. and Jonathan, brother Raymond Billings Jr. and his sister in law Doris.

Donald’s funeral was held at Our Lady Star of The Sea Church on Nov. 7, officiated by Fr. Michael Nagle, with a grand parade to the cemetery in the back of his beloved antique fire truck accompanied by representation from all the Island fire departments and veterans.

Donations in his memory may be made to the (Town of Oak Bluffs) Fire Museum, PO Box 143, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557 or, as Mike Joyce recalled at the funeral, he would have liked you to “just do the right thing” always. Arrangements were under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home.