Eugene F. "Gene" Litchfield

ORANGE- Eugene F. “Gene” Litchfield, 96, of East River Street, died Friday evening, February 9, 2024 at Quabbin Valley Healthcare in Athol with loved ones at his side.

Born in Boston on January 11, 1928, he was the son of the late Fred W. and Grace B. (Shovan) Litchfield. Gene grew up in Orange and attended the Orange Elementary Schools and Orange High School.

Gene served two tours of duty in the Navy during World War II as well as the Korean Conflict. Gene was stationed aboard the USS Coral Sea CV-43 and the USS Midway CV-41 and was a “plank member” of both ships. A plank member was a person who was one of the original crew members on the ship. He was honorably discharged on August 7, 1951.

Gene was married to Shirley (Howard) on December 7, 1950, and they enjoyed 48 years together until her death on July 1, 1998.

Gene and Shirley both loved Doberman Pinscher dogs and had 4 of them over the years.

In his younger years, Gene enjoyed hunting in MA and NH with his sons Kevin and Keith. Later in life, he enjoyed sitting in his workshop at the back of his garage sipping a glass of scotch and smoking a pipe of tobacco.

Gene was a Lifetime member of the Orange American Legion Post #172 as well as a long time member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Athol.

A certified toolmaker at the L. S. Starrett Co. in Athol, Gene retired after 46 years.

Gene served on the Orange Fire Department for many years as a “call” firefighter and retired as Captain of Engine #2.

Gene was a life-long member of the Orange Gun Club where he shot trap 1-2 times a week, and won an award for shooting 150 clay pigeons consecutively.

One of Gene’s favorite past times was playing cribbage. He played on teams at the Orange American Legion and entered into several tournaments with his son Kevin.

Survivors include his sons, Kevin Litchfield and his wife, Pamela, of Orange and Keith Litchfield and his wife, Noreen, of Punta Gorda, FL.

Gene is loved by his family and many friends and will be greatly missed.

Services will be held later this spring at a date and time to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Gene’s memory can be made to Orange American Legion, P.O. Box 172, Orange, MA 01364, or to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Regional Dog Shelter, 10 Sandy Lane, Turners Falls, MA 01376.

Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is assisting the family.

Guest book and directions online at WWW.WITTYFUNERALHOME.COM

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