Russell I. Putnam, Sr.

Whitinsville – Russell I. Putnam Sr., 75, of Susanne Drive, died Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008, at his home. He was the husband of Shirley Arlene (Magaw) Putnam, and they observed their 54th wedding anniversary on May 1, 2007.     Mr. Putnam had been employed at the Lantor Corporation in Bellingham until his retirement in 1991.  He had previously worked as a Machinist for ATF Davidson in Northbridge, and as a Machinist/Glass Blower for Beam Tube Corp. in Milford and Raytheon in Waltham.
    Mr. Putnam was born August 23, 1932, in Presque Isle, ME, the son of the late Charles Putnam and Glady (Mullen) Bushey. He attended Presque Isle Jr. High in Presque Isle, ME and Waltham Watch Maker School in Waltham, MA. Mr. Putnam was a resident of Whitinsville for 11 years, previously residing in Hopedale, Bellingham and Natick.
    Mr. Putnam served in the US Army from May 25, 1950, to August 31, 1952, during the Korean War. He was a Decorated Disabled Veteran with two Purple Hearts and received the  Korean Service Medal with three companionstars, CIBAD and a Distinguished Unit Citation.
    Mr. Putnam was a member of the Korean War Veterans Association, Chapter 299 at the Massachusetts State House, Room 545-2 in Boston, the VFW of Medway and the Disabled American Veterans Post of North Attleboro.
    In addition to his wife, Mr. Putnam is survived by one son Russell I. Putnam Jr. (Leonna) of Robinson, TX; eight daughters, Lucinda Cleary (Joseph) of Medway, Sally Tominsky (Joseph) of Milford, Katherine Choquette (Robert) of Uxbridge, Esther Magliocca of Woonsocket, RI, Wanda Harper (Bud) of Roscoe, IL, Shelly Lemire (Steven) of Cumberland, RI, Elizabeth Kingman (James) of Leominster and June Goldsmith (Christopher) of San Franciso, CA; three brothers, Charles Putnam (Mildred) of Mapleton, ME, Joseph Putnam (Betty) of Caribou, ME and Donald Putnam (Shirley) of Presque Isle, ME; one sister, Prisilla (Putnam) Fitzherbert of Presque Isle, ME; 18 grandchildren, Joseph, David, Nicole, Ethan, Richard, Jessica, Randell, Chris, Nate, Beau, Tyler, Russell, Lauren, Brandon, Ashley, James, Brittany and Jonathan;  12 great- grandchildren, Issac, Evan, Emerald, Isabella, Ethan, Sammy, Richard, Skylar, Stella, Sophia, Devon, Dillon and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by one sister Patricia (Putnam) Howlett of Mapleton, ME.
    Funeral services with Full Military Honors will be held  Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008, at 11 a.m. in the chapel of the Buma Funeral Home, 480 Church St., Whitinsville, MA 01588.
    Visiting hours will be held    Wed. Jan. 23, 2008 from  4-8 p.m. in the funeral home.
    In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Korea War Memorial Maintenance Fund, KWVA, P.O. Box 22857, Alexandria, VA 22304-9285 or UMASS Memorial Hospice, 650 Lincoln St., Worcester, MA 01605.