Donald E. Conaway Jr.

Born August 26, 1925 in Charleston, West Virginia, Donald (Don) was the eldest of three children born to Jane Preston Finley Conaway and Donald Edward Conaway Sr. of Warren, PA. He was a 1950 graduate of Cornell University on the GI Bill following three years of service in the Army and the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. He and his wife Patricia Gibson Conaway of Sheffield, PA moved to Attleboro, MA in 1955 where they raised three children. In 1960 he left Texas Instruments to incorporate his basement startup, Checon Corp., which today is the largest US manufacturer in its field. Over the past 50 years, he patented and was involved in the development of new processes in electrical contact manufacture and contact material production.

Don was committed to active service in his community where he served on boards that included the Augat Foundation, the Associated Industries of Mass. and his beloved Capron Park Zoo, in Attleboro. Don also worked to establish the Spindle Rock Club in Acoaxet, MA as a charter member. With an engineer's appreciation for logical process, a natural charm and a winning smile he was a formidable campaign chair for fund drives in support of his local church and hospital.

In his later years, Don authored a collection of memoirs and stories often accompanied by his skilled amateur photography. His family will treasure them and his memory.

Don is survived by Patty, his beloved wife of 63 years. He is predeceased by his sister Betsi Preston Conaway Yerkes and survived by his brother Charles Finley Conaway of Warren, PA., his daughters Susan Lincoln of Boxford, MA, Anne Conaway Downing of Damascus, OR and his son D. Allen Conaway of Bristol, RI. He was a grateful grandfather to five and a great grandfather to three.

A funeral service in his memory will be held at the United Congregational Church of Little Compton, RI at 10:30 AM on Friday August 7, 2015. A reception at the church will follow.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that you send donations in Don’s memory to the Friends of Capron Park Zoo at

http://www.capronparkzoo.com/friends-of-cpz.html