Quay, Donald
Birth
Donald Quay was born on December 14, 1921 in Knox, the son of Daniel Webster & Bertha Mae (Bradt) Quay. His siblings were:
- Thaddeus Quay of Altamont
- Richard Quay of Tennessee
- Helen Coulter
- Rosemary Tubbs of Altamont
Marriage and Children
Donald Quay married Vivian Lorraine Coulter on November 23, 1949 in Schenectady. His wife died on May 21, 1997. They had three sons and two daughters.
- Peter Donald Quay and his wife, Brenda of Norwich, Connecticut
- Keith Robert Quay and his wife, Carolee of Norwich, Connecticut
- Wayne Daniel Quay and his wife Cheryl of Norwich, Connecticut
- Donna Lorraine Gendreau and her husband, Roy, of East Windsor, Connecticut
- Patricia Diane Brown and her husband, Robert, of Montville, Connecticut.
Military Service
Donald Quay served in the U.S. Army in Europe during the war as a radio operator. He was awarded a Bronze Star.
Death
Donald died in a Connecticut Hospital on April 28, 2008.
Burial
Donald was buried May 1, 2008 in Maplewood Cemetery.[1]
Other Media
Obituary
Donald Quay, a World War II veteran and an engineer, died on April 28, 2008 in a hospital in Connecticut where he lived. He was 86. Mr. Quay was born on December 14, 1921 in Knox, the son of Daniel Webster Quay and Bertha Mae Bradt Quay. He married Vivian Lorraine Coulter on November 23, 1949 in Schenectady. His wife died on May 21, 1997. He served in the United States Army in Europe during World War II as a radio operator and was awarded a Bronze Star. He always blamed his right ear hearing loss on the trip home from Europe on the boat. Following the war, he attended and graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, in 1951, with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering. He worked first for American Locomotive in Dunkirk, New York while he and his family resided in Fredonia, New York. In 1962 he moved to New London, Connecticut and where the family spent nine months. He started work for the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics in 1962, working as an engineer in the nuclear shielding area, a job in which he thrived. He moved to Montville, Connecticut in 1963 and bought the house in which he lived in for the rest of his life. He retired in 1986 to be home to care for his wife. He was active for a period at the United Presbyterian Church in Groton and then at the Montville Center Congregational Church where he served as deacon and moderator, he was a member of the local VFW, and a life member of the American Legion Post in Dunkirk. He enjoyed playing bridge during lunch hours while at work. And, at home, his hobbies included daily cryptograms, woodworking, tinkering with anything that needed repair, gardening and being at home, making dandelion wine. In his retirement he enjoyed pinochle outings with friends. Following his wife's death he spent time traveling with his children to Quay, New Mexico; Orlando, Florida and other locations. In his later years, he was slowed by his illnesses but enjoyed reading, his grandchildren, and frequent family outings. He is survived by three sons, Peter Donald Quay and his wife, Brenda; Keith Robert Quay and his wife, Carolee; and Wayne Daniel Quay and his wife Cheryl--all of Norwich, Connecticut and by two daughters, Donna Lorraine Gendreau and her husband, Roy, of East Windsor, Connecticut and Patricia Diane Brown and her husband, Robert, of Montville, Connecticut. He was the proud grandfather of 10 grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers, Thaddeus Quay of Altamont, Richard Quay of Tennessee; and two sisters, Helen Coulter and Rosemary Tubbs of Altamont. The funeral services are today (Thursday) at 10 a.m. at the Church & Allen Funeral Home in Norwich, Connecticut; burial will immediately follow at Maplewood Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made Parkinsons Disease to Connecticut Chapter/APDA, 27 Allendale Drive, North Haven, CT 06473. An online memorial is at www.mem.com.
Published at The Altamont Enterprise, Page 18, 1 May 2008 Issue.
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