Obituary: Edward W. Greene, WWII Veteran

Obituary from John Everett & Sons Funeral Home:

Edward W. Greene, 89, of Wellesley, formerly of Natick, died Oct. 31, 2013 at his home.

He was husband of the late Mary A (Horan) Greene who died in 1995.

A Wellesley resident for 45 years, he was born in Natick the son of the late Edward C and Mary T (Doyle) Greene.

At age 13, after losing his own father, he delivered coal in a wheelbarrow during the Great Depression to earn money to pitch in for his large family of sisters and brothers. 

He was a graduate of Natick High School Class of 1941, and over the years was a member of the Natick VFW, American Legion, and AMVETS. During WWII, he was a member of the 440th squadron (part of Col Randy Holzapple's famed and innovative "Flying Circus" in the Pacific), of the 319th Bombardment Group, working in ordnance. He was an enlisted man who left the service as a Master Sergeant (Technical). He worked as a mechanic from the 1940s on- first at his uncle's then his own service station, then for James R. Bell Buick in Natick and Haskin's Oldsmobile in Wellesley. He was always at work on something, still driving and working part time as he approached his 90th birthday. 

He loved jazz and vacationing on the Cape, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his four children, Kevin E. Greene and his wife Denise of Sandestin Fla., Michael J. Greene and his wife Carol of Amherst, Dawn F. Brown and her husband Michael of Princeton Ill. and Shawn A Greene of Wellesley; his brother Richard Greene and his wife Virginia of Ashland; his sister Mary Alice Morse of Natick; his seven grandchildren, Benjamin, Kristin, Julie, Katherine, Mary Jeanne, Eliot and Lily; and his many nieces and nephews. He was also the brother of the late Walter Greene, Anna Pepka and Robert Greene.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral Friday, Nov. 8 at 9 a.m. at the John Everett and Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St., Natick, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St Patrick Church at 10 a.m. Visiting hours are Thursday, 5 to 8 p.m. Burial with military honors will be at Massachusetts National at Bourne.