Walter Robert O’Loan, 93, a longtime Nashua resident, passed away at his home, Friday morning, December 27, 2019 after a period of declining health.
A native of Brooklyn, New York, he was born on December 29, 1925, a son of the late Robert E. and Mae (Corrigan) O’Loan. Educated in Brooklyn, Walter graduated from Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in 1943 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from St. John’s University in 1951. He did advanced study at St. John’s, Tufts, Northeastern University, the Dale Carnegie Course and American Management Academy. During World War II, Mr. O’Loan served with the Army Signal Corps from 1944 to 1946. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Tech/4.
Walter began his career in New York as a Lab Technician, Chemist and Crystallographer for well-known companies of Ramsay-Young Labs, Beech-Nut Packaging, H.M. Rubin and Radio Receptor. He moved to Massachusetts in 1955 to be a Technical Foreman and Manufacturing Superintendent for the Sylvania Factory in Hillsboro, NH. Destiny intervened when Walter befriended his co-worker Blanche Thibault, who saw what a catch he was and set him up with her baby sister Ruth, who became his future wife. In 1963, Walter and his growing family moved to Nashua where he worked at ADL and Sanders Associates Flexprint Division, becoming involved with the early usage of semiconductors. In 1979, he moved on to Centronics in Hudson testing integrated circuits. Walter was always at the head of cutting-edge technology, so when Sanders bought CalComp (California Computer Corp.) and opened a Display Products Division in Hudson in 1982, he joined them in the Reliability Group for burning-in and programming devices. We can all thank him for his part in helping create the computers we use today. He retired from CalComp in 1991 as an Electronics Components Engineer.
Mr. O’Loan was a member and Past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council #5472; served as the First Board President of the French Hill Neighborhood Housing Services; Past Board member of the Nashua Pastoral Care Center; Past member of Nashua Interfaith Council; Veterans of Foreign Wars (LIC Post 2348), American Chemical Society; Institute of Radio Engineers; and MENSA. Walter was a devout Catholic and communicant of St. Christopher Parish for 35 years, St. Patrick Parish for 10 years and the Parish of the Resurrection since 2009.
On September 29, 1956, Walter married Ruth R. Desrosiers in Methuen, MA. The couple shared 45 years together, celebrating their devotion to God and each other, until her passing on March 17, 2002.
Walter is survived by a vast community who will dearly miss hearing his stories and singing along with his traditional Irish songs. Members of his immediate family include a brother, Raymond E. O’Loan and his wife Joyce of Alameda, CA and sister-in-law, Sister Consolata of Jesus, ODC; Walter was predeceased by a brother, Robert O’Loan in 1928. His children include Nina (Joseph) Daniels of Pelham; Noreen (Bob) Loso of St. Joseph, MN, Suzanne O’Loan of Hollis, Brian O’Loan and Rory O’Loan both of Nashua; Marianne O’Loan, with whom he made his home in Nashua; the late Sean O’Loan who passed away in 1984, and Paula Gaylord of Albany, NY. Walter was proud of all his grandchildren: Peter (Virginia) Loso; Timothy (Sharon) Rocha; Christopher O’Loan; Melanie (Jay Bimshas) Rocha; Nick Loso; Megan (Chris) Bakas, Amy Lefebvre; Casey (Chase) Smith; Bacle (Jade) Fowler; Shana Taylor; Nate Loso; Ryan O’Loan; Sean O’Loan, Eric O’Loan; American Gaylord; Cameron O’Loan; Hope O’Loan; and Ultan Gaylord; 6 great-grandchildren, Alexander Bakas, Sydney, Bacle and Marley Fowler, Evan Rocha and Lincoln Rocha; also many nieces, nephews and extended family whom he loved dearly.
Calling hours will be held at the FARWELL FUNERAL HOME, 18 Lock Street, Nashua, on Wednesday, January 1, 2020 from 2 to 5 p.m. and Thursday morning, January 2nd from 9 to 10 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Parish of the Resurrection, 449 Broad Street, Nashua, Thursday at 11 a.m. Interment will take place at St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Lawrence, MA. Friends are invited to attend. Donations in Walter’s name can be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Running Strong for American Indian Youth. To view on online, please visit www.farwellfuneralservice.com
