Obituary for Donald A. Stuart
Donald A. Stuart, 78, died Thursday, May 22 with his loving wife Pauline and their family at his side. He was born on July 12, 1929, in Springfield, to the late Herbert A. and Helen A. (Link) Stuart. A 1946 graduate of Springfield Technical High School, he lettered in baseball and bowling, and was chairman of the last four Class Reunions. He played semi-pro football with the Indian Orchard Rockets and the Unity Wildcats. He was a catcher for the Blunt Park Bears, and participated in the Jr. National Baseball Tournament in Dayton, Ohio. He majored in accounting at Gaugh School of Business, graduating in 1947. In 1948, he enlisted in the National Guard of Massachusetts, where he served in the 104th Infantry, Headquarters Company, and was discharged with the rank of sergeant in 1956. In 1944, his parents opened Stuart Sportsmen’s Centre in Indian Orchard, where he was employed until his retirement in 1998 as Chairman of the Board. He opened a second Stuart’s store in Agawam, MA in 1972. He started golfing in 1955, and was a member of Ludlow Country Club. He began shooting archery in 1960, and belonged to the Ludlow Fish & Game Club for many years, serving as Director, Archery Director, and Chairman of many State, Sectional and New England Championships; in 1972, he chaired the 27th National Field Archery Association Championships. He also ran numerous snowmobile races at the Club. In 1964, he and Pauline won the New England Husband & Wife Championship. He was a member of the Hampden County Deputy Sheriff’s Department, a charter member of the Ludlow Elks, a member of the Granby Bow & Gun Club, and a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association. He was a communicant of Immaculate Conception Church, Indian Orchard. He began fishing as a boy of 9, and hunting at age 16. He was a faithful Yankees fan, and in his lifetime was an avid hunter, fisherman, archer, skier, bowler, golfer and race handicapper. Since retirement, he devoted his leisure time to golf, traveling and cruising with wife Pauline and their close friend Elsie Randall, handicapping races and shooting at indoor archery tournaments. In 2007, he placed in the Senior Olympics, Summer National Senior Games in Louisville, KY and in February 2008, competed in the World Archery Festival held in Las Vegas, NV. He leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife of 57 years, the former Pauline B. Munger, his beloved children, Sharon and her husband Keith Person of Wilbraham, Susan Stuart of Indian Orchard, and Robert of Fort Mill, SC, cherished grandchildren Rebecca and her husband Ted Hebert, Kristine and her husband Matthew Lefebvre, Gregory Person and his girlfriend Danielle Paine, Heather and her husband Matthew Touchette, and Andrew Stuart. He also leaves seven treasured great-grandchildren. He leaves his sister Joan and her husband Fay Chistolini of Indian Orchard, and his brother George and his wife Rena of Ludlow. He was predeceased by grandchildren Heidi J. Weit in 1993 and Robert J. Person in 1995. Since 2007, he missed their precious family dog “Yogi”, who accompanied them on many automobile trips. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday morning at 9am from Ludlow Funeral Home with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10am in Immaculate Conception Church followed by burial in St. Aloysius Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Monday evening from 5-8pm at the funeral home. Donations may be made to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of MA, 220 North Main Street, Ste 104, Natick, MA 01760, or to the Ludlow Fire Department Ambulance Service, P. O. Box 382, Ludlow, MA 01056.
Donations may be made in Donald's memory to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 220 North Main Street Suite 104, Natck, Ma. 01760 or Ludlow Fire Dept. Ambulance Fund PO BOX 382 Ludlow, Ma. 01056-0382
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Donations may be made in Donald's memory to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 220 North Main Street Suite 104, Natck, Ma. 01760 or Ludlow Fire Dept. Ambulance Fund PO BOX 382 Ludlow, Ma. 01056-0382
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