Obituary of William A. Irving

William A. Irving, 93, of Burlington, passed away on Thursday morning, October 14. He was the husband of Ruth (Robinson) Irving. Born in Biddeford, Maine, he was the son of the late Frank R., and the late Elizabeth (Rowe) Irving. “Bill” as he was known to his family and friends, was a graduate of the Fryeburg Academy, Huntington Prep School in Boston, and earned his B.A. from Boston University in 1951. Bill and Ruth were married in 1950. He worked for 22 years at the Whiting Milk Company in Charlestown as a Plant Manager, and later as an accountant until the company closed in 1973. While working at Whiting, he also served as Treasurer of the Whiting Mutual Benefit Association and as Auditor of the Whitson Credit Union. Bill went on to continue his career as a Purchasing Manager at the New England Door Corporation in Sudbury until his retirement in 1991. He was also a member and Chairman of the Burlington Personnel Board for eight years. As a youth, Bill was a Boy Scout, and achieved the Eagle Scout status. He continued his interest in Scouting beginning in the 1950s, serving as Assistant Cub Master for the Boy Scout Troop at the former Tarkey School on Woburn’s West Side. After moving to Burlington in the 1960s, he served as Scout Master for the troop at the Presbyterian Church, and later as one of the Pack Committee to start Cub Scout Pack #102 at the Pine Glen School in Burlington. Bill was active in Masonic organizations. He became a member of the Mount Horeb Lodge, AF&AM in Woburn in 1964, and later serving as Master of the lodge from 1971-1972. For many years, he served as Dad Advisor for the William Parkman Lodge, Order of DeMolay in Winchester. Bill was an Affiliated Past Master of Simonds Lodge, AF&AM in Burlington, and was a member of the Mystic-Woburn Royal Arch Chapter; and he served as a Notary Public for many years. Bill was a member of the First Baptist Church in Woburn for many years, serving as a Deacon, a Sunday School Teacher, and Superintendent of the children’s class conducted during the church services. In later years, he became a devout Catholic, and a communicant of St. Eulalia’s Church in Winchester. Bill was the husband of Ruth (Robinson) Irving; and the brother of Frances Blackman of Cranston, RI. Father of the late Glenn Irving and his wife Sharon of New Bern, NC, Ann Keniston and her husband David of Tewksbury, MA, the late Lynne Pollino of Woburn, MA, and John Irving and his wife Mary of Tewksbury, MA. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Christopher Irving, Michael Patuleia and partner Tiffany Allen, Amy Irving, Alex and husband David Alcon, Timothy Pollino, Caroline Keniston, and Tess Irving; He is further survived by four great-grandchildren, Brooklyn Leeth, Emmie Irving, Laela Irving, and Watson Irving. He is additionally survived by nieces Beth and her husband Dr. Allen Heller, and Diane DiNardi, and nephews Thomas Blackman, and Winston and his wife Lynne Robinson, as well as many grandnieces & grandnephews. An hour of visitation will be held at the Graham Funeral Home, 3 Arlington Rd., Woburn on Monday, October 18 from 10:00-11:00 am, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 am. A Masonic Service will be conducted during the visitation at 10:30 am, and all are welcome to attend. Burial will be at the Woodbrook Cemetery in Woburn. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bill’s memory may be made to the St. Eulalia’s Parish Retired Clergy Trust., 50 Ridge St., Winchester, MA 01890