James G. Farrell, 87, Was Veteran of World War II

James G. Farrell, 87, of Oak Bluffs, died Friday, Jan. 24, at the Hyannis Skilled Care Nursing Home in Hyannis.

He was the husband of the late Grace P. Carroll and the son of the late James H. Farrell and the late Ella Beard. He was born on Feb. 6, 1915 in Dorchester as one of three children; his brother, John Farrell, and his sister, Ruth Paul, have predeceased him.

Mr. Farrell lived in Dorchester and worked for the New England Telephone Company in the Braintree office for 35 years, retiring in 1980. After his retirement, he volunteered driving patients to hospital treatments and driving for the mentally handicapped. He finally fully retired as a security guard from the Quincy Mini-mall.

He had summered on the Island since the 1920s and owned a summer home on Samoset avenue in Oak Bluffs for 40 years; since 2000 he had been living on Summit avenue as a permanent resident.

Mr. Farrell was an Army veteran of World War II and a member of the American Legion of Hyde Park, Boston.

Surviving him are three daughters, Janice Rose and Barbara Bruck, both of Oak Bluffs, and Patricia Jones of Chicopee; two sons, John Farrell of Vineyard Haven and Joseph McDonald of Quincy; 14 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, and a longtime companion, Pauline McDonald of Oak Bluffs.

He was the father of Richard Farrell, Robert Farrell, Peter Farrell, Arlene McKay and Grace Farrell, all of whom have predeceased him.

His Funeral Mass was celebrated in Our Lady, Star of the Sea Church in Oak Bluffs at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28. Interment was in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Oak Bluffs with military honors provided by the Veterans of Martha's Vineyard. Visiting hours were in the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs on Monday evening. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Hospice of Martha's Vineyard, P.O. Box 2549, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.