WILLIAM JAMES McLAUGHLIN

Age 98, passed away Friday, January 27, 2012. He had resided at Abbey Delray North for over 20 years. Grace L. McLaughlin, his wife of 55 years, preceded him in death in 1993.
Mr. McLaughlin was born June 15, 1913, in Providence, Rhode Island, the eldest son of William J. and Mary (Dennegan) McLaughlin. He attended local schools and Rhode Island State College (now the University of Rhode Island).

During his early career he was employed by the National Biscuit Company, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service. He served in the U.S. Navy aboard the hospital ship Haven (AH-12) in the Pacific theater during World War II and assisted with the release of Prisoners of War after the bombing of Nagasaki, Japan. He later became an accountant, owning his own business in Westerly, Rhode Island, where he became involved politically, serving three terms as treasurer of the town.

The family moved to Delray Beach in 1955, where Mr. McLaughlin opened an accounting office.
He was an active communicant at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church; a past president of the St. Vincent de Paul Society; a member of the Holy Name Society; a life member of the Knights of Columbus Council #4864 of Delray Beach. He also was a life member of Delray Beach Lodge BPOE (Elks) #1770; a life member of VFW #4141, Delray Beach; a life member of American Legion Post 65 of Delray Beach. During his career as an accountant he did consulting work with the U.S. Department of Commerce (Census Bureau) in the state of Florida. He was a past president of the Florida Accountants Association and served as parliamentarian of the National Society of Public Accountants for many years. He was active in the local and state Association of Enrolled Agents.

He is survived by one daughter, Judith M. Sanders (Dewey), Boynton Beach; three sons, W. James McLaughlin (Jennifer), Hypoluxo; Robert M. McLaughlin (Mary), Ponce Inlet; Martin T. McLaughlin, McLean, Virginia. He also is survived by six grandsons, one granddaughter, and eight great-grandchildren. Other survivors include his sister, Angela M. Spargo, Maine, and many nieces and nephews. Two brothers, John D. McLaughlin and James P. McLaughlin, and one sister, M. Elizabeth McLaughlin, predeceased him.

Visiting hours will be held at Lorne & Sons Funeral Home, 745 N.E. 6th Avenue, Delray Beach, on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, 840 George Bush Blvd., Delray Beach, on Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 10:00 AM. Burial will be at Delray Beach Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church.