Donald W. Willson, 79, the beloved husband of fifty-five years of Eleanor (Topliff) Willson died on Sunday (May 27, 2007) at Hartford Hospital. Born in Hartford the son of the late Alfred and Louise (Hale) Willson he grew up in South Windsor and lived in East Hartford for the past fifty-three years. Don served in the US Air Force obtaining the rank of Staff Sergeant and was the President and owner of Willson Manufacturing Co. Inc. He was the Past President of the Glastonbury Rotary Club and his hobbies included golfing with his pals and grandsons, time spent on Cape Cod with his family and building replica Pratt & Whitney engines with his friends in Australia and Salt Lake City, UT. Besides his wife he is survived by his son Donald W. Willson II and his daughter-in-law Rita of Manchester his grandchildren whom were the love of his life, D.J, Christopher and Alison Willson and his brother and sister-in-law John and Carol Willson. He was also predeceased by his daughter Gail Eileen Willson and his brother Bradley Willson. Funeral service will be held on Thursday (May 31st) at 9:45 am from the John F. Tierney Funeral Home 219 West Center Street Manchester, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 am at St. Christopher Church East Hartford, followed by burial in St. James Cemetery, Manchester. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday evening from 4-8 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the Helen and Harry Gray Cancer Center Fund Development Office Hartford Hospital 80 Seymour St. PO Box 5037 Hartford, CT 06101-9960.