Walter Wesley Duff, of Natick, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving daughters on May 20, 2010 at the Royal Cape Cod Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Buzzards Bay. He was 88 years old & the beloved husband of the late Claire R. (Poirier) Duff who passed away in 1999.
Born in Livingston Parish, LA, the son of the late William Walter Duff. & Ellen (McLin) Duff, Mr. Duff was raised on his familys farm in Walker, LA where he attended school. He enlisted in the United States Navy on November 13, 1941. He served as an Aviation Machinist Mate Second Class onboard the USS Flusser, USS Hornet, USS Bon Homme Richard, & the USS Los Angeles. He was a recipient of the American Defense Medal, the American Area Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, & the Good Conduct Medal.
After being honorably discharged from the Navy in 1947, Mr. Duff relocated to the Boston area & settled in Natick in 1967. He was employed as a Master Electrician for the TRW Company in Burlington. An avid fisherman, Mr. Duff also enjoyed woodworking, gardening, & was a former Master Mason & member of the Rabboni Lodge in Westwood. He was lovingly known as Mr. Fix-it to his family for his ability to invent & fix most anything.
Mr. Duff was the devoted father of Carol Lee of Plymouth, Laurie Scholl of Braintree, & Ellen Duff of Plymouth. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Laura Farrell, Jeremy Scholl, Timothy Scholl, Stephanie Bettley-Duff, & Savanna Bettley-Duff; two great-grandchildren, Joshua Farrell & Emily Scholl; & three sisters, Willie Belle Milton of Baker, LA, Alice Smith of Baytown, TX, & Laverne Cop of Baton Rouge, LA. He was the brother of the late Maythel Averette.
Relatives & friends are invited to attend Mr. Duffs funeral service in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St. (at Natick Common) NATICK on Monday, May 24, 2010 at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow with military honors in St. Patricks Cemetery, Natick. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, May 23, 2010 from 3-7 PM.