Member of the state’s Country Music Hall of Fame
Published in the October 21, 2015 edition
WAKEFIELD — William B. Devine Sr., 92, of Wakefield died peacefully surrounded by his family on Monday, Oct. 19.
Born in Lynn on Sept. 14, 1923, he was the son of the late Patrick J. and Mary Ellen (Kelleher) Devine.
William was born and raised in Lynn. For many years he had owned and operated the Pioneer Club in Lynn and had a band “Sandy and the Fabulites.” He was inducted into the Massachusetts Country Hall of Fame in 1994.
He had been a resident of Wakefield for the past 70 years and was a member of St. Florence Church. William’s first love was his wife, children and family and his second love was music. He was devoted to his faith and family members joked that he should have been called “Saint Bill.”
William is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Aurora O. (Cresta) Devine; three daughters, Carol (Devine) Fisher and her husband Michael of Wakefield, Rita (Devine) Malmsten and her husband Charles of New Hampshire and Judith Devine Ellis and her husband Joel Backon of Connecticut; his son William B. Devine Jr. and his wife Patricia (Fairfield) of Wakefield; and sister-in-law Linda A. (Bennedetto) Devine. He was predeceased by his son-in-law Richard W. Ellis III and siblings Thomas J. Devine, Katherine M. Carpenter, Frances Adamson, Lillian M. Kowalski, Edward P. Devine, Richard L. Devine, Rita J. Devine and Margaret Devine. Also survived by eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be celebrated in St. Florence Church, 47 Butler Ave., Wakefield on Thursday at 10 o’clock. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. There will be no calling hours. Interment will be private.
Arrangements in the care of the McDonald Funeral Home, Wakefield.
