Donald E. Willoughby (Don), 83, of Centerville, died on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Cape Cod Hospital. He was 83.
Don was the loving husband of Linda (Stetson) Willoughby with whom he shared 56 wonderful years of marriage.
He was born on Oct. 15, 1942, in Edgartown, to his late parents Marjorie (O’Shea) from County Kerry, Ireland, and Emory Willoughby of Edgartown.
He grew up on Martha’s Vineyard and was in the first graduating class of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. Following high school, he proudly served his country as a sergeant in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
Following his time in the service, he went on to earn his associate’s degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, and later a degree from Mass Bay Community College in Framingham.
Don and Linda married on Feb. 14, 1970 and the couple started their life together in Marlboro and Framingham, where he held the position of service manager at Annis Morrill Volkswagen for several years. The family transitioned to Osterville, and later Centerville on Cape Cod where Don was very successful and held the position of territory manager/New England for W.W. Grainger Inc. in what would be his lifelong career in sales, until his retirement in 2011.
Don was an outdoorsman and enjoying camping and fishing. He was also active and played in a local softball league for many years. He loved cars and could often be found working on the family vehicles in the garage. He was also a craftsman and did woodworking as a hobby, even making furniture and Christmas ornaments. He could often be found tinkering away in his shop — always creating or fixing something. He held season Red Sox tickets and attended many games over the years.
He had a warm, friendly and engaging personality. He also had a wonderful sense of humor and was famous for always making quick funny remarks that were totally spot on and hilarious. He had a great talent for bringing humor and laughter to any gathering. More than anything, he is remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather. He will be greatly missed by all who have had the pleasure of knowing him.
He loved Elvis, Dunkin’ coffee, turkey with all the fixings, coffee/chocolate chip flurries (‘flubbies’) from Par-T-Freeze; fishing, ‘golden oldies’ on the radio; orange soda; ’57 Chevys; the Red Sox; Grainger products; playing poker with the same guys for 40 years; ‘Let it Ride’ at Foxwoods; coffee frappe; camping; chicken wings…and his family.
Don is survived by his wife, Linda L. Willoughby, of Mashpee; his daughter Caitlin J. Willoughby and her husband Jared M. Smith, of Plymouth; his son Kyle B.T. Willoughby, of West Yarmouth; his grandchildren Brendan M. Smith, and Abigail J. Smith, of Plymouth; his brother George A. Willoughby, of Ft. Meyers, Fla.; his sister Kathleen J. Wray, and her husband William, of Edgartown,; as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family members.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to noon, with a celebration of life service to follow at Chapman Funerals and Cremations, 74 Algonquin avenue, in Mashpee.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Don’s memory can be made to: CHIPS house, c/o Willoughby, 9 Park avenue, Centerville, MA 02632 or online at chipshouse.org.