Obituary of Richard V. O'Donnell

Richard V. O`Donnell, 90, of Merritt Island, Florida, formerly of Freehold Township passed away Friday, March 23, 2007. A retired Ft. Monmouth electrical engineer, he lived in Freehold for 54 years and spent the last three years residing in Merritt Island, Florida. He was a World War II veteran, in the Army Signal Corps, having served in the ETO from November, 1944 through June, 1946. He was honorably discharged from the Reserves as a Captain. He was the last surviving child of Nellie and Frank O`Donnell of Brooklyn, N.Y. and a long-standing and very active communicant of St. Rose of Lima Church, Freehold. His education included graduations from Cooper Union and Fairleigh Dickinson University, with B.S. and M.S. degrees respectively; he also attended Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before being stationed overseas. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Eleanor M. Vogel O`Donnell, as well as an infant son, Patrick Michael. He is survived by three sons and three daughters: Noreen Lackett, Baton Rouge, LA; Michael O`Donnell, Spring Hill, FL; Colleen Singer, South River; Pegeen Bibby, Merritt Island, FL; Richard O`Donnell, Toms River; and Kevin O`Donnell, Howell Township, 27 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Many nieces and nephews will miss him dearly. Friends may visit with family at Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center St, Freehold, on Friday, March 30 from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Rose of Lima Church on Saturday, March 31st, at 10 A.M. Internment with military honors will be in St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Throckmorton St, Freehold. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Alzheimer`s Association or to Catholic Charities.