David G. O'Donnell

DANVERS-David G. O’Donnell, Sr., 88, passed away peacefully on April 22, 2023. He was the husband of the late Natalie (Moorehead) O’Donnell. Born in Malden on March 13, 1935, he was the son of the late George and Helen (MacArthur) O’Donnell. David was raised and educated in Malden. He had a long career in aviation. At the age of 17, David enlisted in the United States Air Force, during the Korean War, where he became an aircraft mechanic. He was honorably discharged. He then attended Wentworth Institute where he earned his Airframe & Power plant licenses from the Federal Aviation Administration. He served as a reservist with the United States Navy as a flight engineer on P-3 Orion anti-submarine aircraft, retiring as a Senior Chief. He worked for American Airlines and Eastern Airlines, for many years, prior to becoming an Aviation Safety Inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration. He retired in 2007 after 23 years of service. David was an avid aircraft model builder and a World War II aviation historian. He enjoyed spending time at the Plum Island Airport with his friend Steve Noyes, driving around in his Mazda Miata convertible and traveling late in his life. He is survived by two sons, David O’Donnell, Jr. and his wife, Elizabeth of Westfield and Paul O’Donnell of Danvers, his sister Nancy Fleming and her husband Ronald of Georgia, cousins Mary Reilly, her husband John and their daughter Laura Cashell and her husband Thomas, their daughters, Kalayaan and Malaya of Maine and Bill Sloan of Maine and nephews Joseph Breen and Michael Breen of Georgia. Visitation will be held from 4-7PM on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at C.R. Lyons & Sons, Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers. All other services are private. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in David’s name to the Alzheimer’s Assoc. 309 Waverley Oaks Rd, Waltham, MA, 02452. Online directions and condolences are available at www.LyonsFuneral.com