Donald W. Gilpin Obituary (1929 - 2012)

Services will be private. Donald William Gilpin, 83, of Dracut, MA died Monday, July 30th with his family by his side and under the loving care of the staff at Lowell General Hospital. He was born on February 24th, 1929 in Pawtucket, RI the only child of Russell M. Gilpin and Eleanor (O'Neil) Gilpin. Donald was a clinical social worker. He completed his undergraduate studies at Springfield College, Springfield, MA and received his MS of Social Work from Boston University in 1960. His career in Social Work spanned more than 40 years starting with Vermont Children's Aid Society, working in Springfield and Burlington, VT. Donald then became the first Executive Director of White Mountain Community Services (White Mountain Mental Health) in Littleton, NH in 1965. He also had a large private practice as a Social Worker. Donald and his family spent 45 wonderful years in Littleton and Bethlehem NH where they have many cherished friends. Donald was a member of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Littleton. He loved the outdoors and canoed, hiked the White Mountains, and set out annually to find the perfect Christmas tree in the snow covered woods of NH. Donald was instrumental in starting the Littleton chapter of Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) and of Friendship House in Bethlehem. In recognition of his work promoting mental health he was awarded Littleton's first Citizen of the Year Award. Donald was also awarded New Hampshire Personnel and Guidance Association's Robert Kennett Award, and the Northern NH Mental Health and Development Service's Citizen of the Year Award. Donald had a great love of dogs and in 1947 began with Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, California. At age 17, he volunteered for service with the US Army. He served his country with great pride in both the Army and Navy (USS Essex- CV9) at the end of WWII and the beginning of the Korean Conflict. He loved his country with all of his heart. Donald is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Juanita Dolores (Alfaro) Gilpin of Dracut, his son, David Greig Gilpin of Dracut, his daughter and her husband, Elizabeth Anne Gilpin-Tokozy and Ron Tokozy of Lowell, two grandsons, Jeffrey D. Gilpin of Hudson, NH, and Rafael V. Gilpin of Lowell, four great-granddaughters, and a brother-in-law Ralph C. Alfaro of Ipswich. We love him and miss him dearly. "To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world." --Brandi Snyder. Arrangements are being handled by Dracut Funeral Home. Private services will be held at a later date. Donations in the memory of Donald may be made to All Saints' Episcopal Church - Food Bank, 35 School St., Littleton, NH 03561 or VIPS c/o Littleton Police Dept., 2 Kittridge Lane, Littleton, NH 03561.