Former Chelmsford and Westford Resident Received World War II Victory Medal

The following is an obituary courtesy of Healy Funeral Home.

Elwin Allen Bagley, 88, passed away on July 8, 2014, at the Westford House Transitional Care Unit.

He was the loving husband of Alice Mae (Longley) Bagley, who passed away in 2005. They were married for 51 years. He was the loving father of Kenneth A Bagley of St. Louis MO, who passed away in 1989. Elwin is survived by son David E. Bagley of Chelmsford MA. He is also survived by his sister Martha Hancock and brother Raymond Bagley.

Elwin was born in the family homestead on April 14, 1926, the third of four children, and grew up in Holland MA. After 1954 he spent most of the rest of his life in Westford MA. Recently he has lived in Chelmsford, first at Summer Place and most recently at Meadow Lodge in North Chelmsford.

He served in the Navy during World War II from 1943 to 1946 aboard the U.S.S. PIEDMONT AD 17 in the Atlantic and South Pacific. He was aboard the first Navy ship to be granted liberty ashore in the Bay of Japan prior to the signing of the Japanese Surrender terms. He received the World War II Victory Medal, The Philippine Liberation Ribbon, The Navy Occupation SVC Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, The Tokyo Bay Occupation Force {TF-31) Medal and others.

Elwin was active at the Westford Museum, a member of the Westford Historical Society, an honorary member of Friends of the Cameron Senior Center, a charter member of the Westford Colonial Minutemen and was in charge of the group during the bicentennial celebrations of 1974 and 1975, a charter member of the Holland MA American Legion Post 422 and a member of the Westford V.F.W. Post 6539. He was also a charter member of The Nashoba Mineralogical Society, a member of the Boston Mineral Club and a member of the Colonial Treasure Hunters Association.

Elwin retired in 1988 after working for 35 years in the Missile Systems Division of the Raytheon Mfg Co doing both assembly and research and development for radar, missiles, satellites and optics.

At Elwin's request, funeral services will be held privately.