Obituary: Donald W. Dunford, 56

Donald W. Dunford, 56, of Walden Way, died suddenly on Sunday at Kent Hospital. 

He was the beloved husband of Bonnie J. (Slocum) Dunford. Born in Providence, the son of Freda (Willis) Dunford of North Providence and the late Donald J. Dunford, he worked as a letter carrier for the past 26 years from the US Postal Service branch on Front Street in Lincoln.

Don was a very active member of DeMolay International; was a past "Dad" to the East Greenwich Assembly of Rainbow Girls; a past patron of the Eastern Star; a past master of Roger Williams Lodge #32 F&AM; a York Rite Mason; a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Providence; the RI Shriners Director's Staff and the Red Cross of Constantine Plantations Conclave.

At the time of his death he was the Grand Master of Ceremonies for the Northern Masonic District. Don was a member of the former Roger Williams Baptist Church in Providence; a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in East Greenwich and of Country View Golf Club in Burrillville. He was a former coach of CLCF's GALS softball.

Besides his wife and mother he is survived by his daughters Heather Dalziel Dunford and Holly Lyn Dunford both living at home in Cranston; his sister Debra L. Smith and her husband William D. Jr. of North Providence; his nephew Andrew John Smith of North Providence and his brother-in-law Scott Slocum and his wife Elizabeth of North Kingstown.

Funeral service Thursday at 10 AM in St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Peirce Street, East Greenwich. Calling hours Wednesday 4-8 PM at Carpenter-Jenks Funeral Home & Crematory, 659 East Greenwich Ave, West Warwick with a Masonic memorial service conducted at 8 PM. Burial will be in Highland Memorial Park, Johnston. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his memory be made to the RI Rainbow Girls Foundation Scholarship Fund, c/o Lynn Gebler, 76 Buttonwoods Road, Wyoming, RI 02898 or to the Children's Dyslexia Center of RI, One Rhodes Place, Cranston, RI 02905.