Lieutenant Commander Walter F. MacDonald, 89, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Wareham has been summoned by Our Lord to his final muster at 0725 hours on Dec. 11 following a heroic battle with congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Commander MacDonald was preceded in death by his first wife Peggy (Tighe) MacDonald, his second wife Jean (Holly) MacDonald, and his loving daughter Maribeth MacDonald. He leaves behind his daughters Annemarie (MacDonald) Adams and husband Robert, Irene Tighe MacDonald, Patricia (MacDonald) Bolding; sons Walter F. MacDonald Jr., and John MacDonald and wife Kay; his brother Robert MacDonald and wife Kathy; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Walter was born Aug. 8, 1928 in Boston to James and Catherine (Ross) MacDonald. By the time he was 12 years old he had already established himself on a favorite corner in Boston where he would shine shoes each weekend to earn money to help his family. By the grace of God and with a family friend’s help (Rev. Austin McCarthy) he was given a scholarship to Boston College High School where he received an outstanding education, and he became a loyal member of the Class of 1945. These three items – hard work, dedication to family, and education – would form the cornerstone of his life.

Upon early graduation from high school Walter attended Boston College. On his 17th birthday he immediately entered into the United States Navy and had the great fortune to serve his country proudly in World War II, the Korean War, the overthrow of the Guatemalan government, the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War. Through diligence he was able to promote from E-1 to E-7 and be part of a very small percentage of sailors that the Navy would put through college and then into the ranks of officer. As such he was able to graduate from Purdue university and attain a bachelor’s of science degree in electrical engineering while serving. A proud Boilermaker, Commander MacDonald was a lifelong member of the Purdue University Alumni Association as well as past president of Purdue Club of Boston where he spearheaded the largest increase in membership in school history.

By the time Commander MacDonald had retired from the Navy in 1971, he had established himself as an elite missile expert who had probably helped put more missiles into the air than any man in the Navy at that time. Additionally, he had continued his academic career, earned a master’s degree in Education at Bridgewater State College, and had become a certified teacher in mathematics, science, and social studies.

In the years that followed, Walter continued to learn. His intellectual pursuits lead him to becoming a registered professional engineer, a certified real estate appraiser and licensed real estate salesman. But more than anything, he loved to spend time with his genealogy and reveled in being Scottish.

Walter was a member of the Prince Edward Island Genealogical Society in Canada as well as vice president and historian of the Scots Charitable Society in Boston. After decades of research, he was successful in matriculating his arms with the Lord Lyon in Scotland. He also established the DNA of the Lot 14 MacDonalds, the Tulloch MacDonalds of Nova Scotia. Additionally, he compiled The MacDonalds of Lot 14 PEI and Related Families – a 500 page, 9,000 entries document; and The Descendants of Angus 7th MacDonald of Tulloch – a 4,500 person index. To say he took his genealogy seriously would be a gross understatement.

All who knew Walter were amazed by his brilliance, awed by his enthusiasm, and very deeply touched by his love. He will be missed more than words could ever express.

Family and friends are invited to a celebration of Walter’s life.

Visiting hours are from 2 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Highway, Wareham.

His Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 20 in St. Margaret of Scotland Church, 141 Main St., Buzzards Bay. Burial with Military Honors will follow in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Scot’s Charitable Society, c/o Siegel Solutions, Inc.

One Wall Street, 6th Floor, Burlington, MA 01803.

For directions and online guestbook, visit: www.ccgfuneralhome.com.