Obituary of Donald E Bentley

Donald E. Bentley passed away on July 4, 2021 in Plymouth at the age of 100.

Born in Winthrop, MA, on March 21, 1921, of Ernest and Rose Bentley, he spent many fond hours of his youth sailing in Boston Harbor. After spending three years at Northeastern University, Donald enlisted in the Navy during WWII where he served as a communications specialist, and with the Seabees in Okinawa - rising to the rank of lieutenant.

Married in 1946 to Marjorie E. Willgoose (d. 2011), they lived in Weymouth and were inseparable for 65 years. In 2001, they moved to Duxbury to be near their beloved cottage on College Pond in Plymouth – the site of countless family gatherings since 1956. 

Donald worked in Boston at the family wool trading & combing firm for 43 years, eventually as President.  He was very active in the First Church of Weymouth as Moderator and Deacon for many years.  He was Pack Leader for his sons’ Cub Scout troop.  With Marjorie, he created and maintained the Abigail Smith Adams Gardens in Weymouth Heights and volunteered at South Shore Hospital for many years.

Throughout his life he enjoyed world-wide travel, gardening, playing piano & organ, and being together with his ever-growing family. After retirement, Don & Marge took extended cross-country tours in their RV, eventually settling at a winter haven in an RV park in Tuscon, AZ. He loved meeting people and was a friend to all.

Mr. Bentley is survived by his four children, Evelyn Horstman (Charles), Elaine Grace (Richard), Robert Bentley, and Ronald Bentley (Salvatore LaRosa); five granddaughters; 15 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Raymond Bentley, of Nashua, NH.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Pilgrim Church, 404 Washington St., Duxbury, MA on Saturday July 17, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.

Donations in lieu of flowers should be made to Cranberry Hospice, 36 Cordage Park Circle, Plymouth, MA  02360 or to Pilgrim Church, P.O. Box 186, Duxbury, MA  02331.