Dana Frederick Billings, of Hanson, born March 22, 1925, passed away peacefully March 2, 2010, at home after a long illness surrounded by his wife and family members. Dana attended elementary and middle school in Rockland and graduated high school at Fryeburg Academy, Fryeburg, Maine. He also attended Burdett College earning a degree in accounting. He served in the U.S. Navy as a signalman on the USS LST 1010 and with PT Squadron 22 in the Mediterranean during World War II. He served the remainder of his active duty on the destroyer USS Holt DE-706. Dana was well-known in the town of Hanson. He manned the voting polls during November elections, served on the Conservation Commission, Planning Board and the Auxiliary Police Force. He was Cub Scout Master and Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 111. He was a recipient of the Scouting Silver Beaver award for his years of dedicated service to the Boy Scouts. Two years ago, a piece of conservation land in Hanson, was named the Webster-Billings Conservation Area for his service to the town. He was also a longtime member of the Masons at the Wamputuck Lodge, the Lions Club and attended the First Congregational Church of Hanson. He was a loving and devoted husband, dad, grandpa and great-grandpa. He had many talents and could fix anything. He loved to cook and did so for his family and friends. Many cookouts and lobster bakes were enjoyed by family and friends on the pine grove hill at his Hanson home. His working career was quite long and varied. He worked as a loss prevention engineer in the insurance industry, a salesman, a manager in the food service industry at UMass-Dartmouth and Milton Academy. He managed the bar for many years at Berts Restaurant in Plymouth and at the old Hobomock in Pembroke. He was remembered as someone who never said no when a friend or family member needed him. He was a son of the late Frederick E. Billings, DMD, and Doris (Force) Billings; and a brother to the late Jack Billings of Rockland. He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Norma (Carlsen) Billings; son, Robert and late wife Virginia of Hanson; daughters, Jane Guivens and her husband Paul of Swanee, Ga., Gail Johnson and her husband Gene of Steep Falls, Maine, and Amy Reid and her husband Greg of Tyngsboro. He leaves 17 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held April 10, at 10 a.m. in the Hanson Congregational Church, High Street, Hanson. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Old Colony Hospice, One Credit Union Way, Randolph, MA 02368. For online condolences and directions, please visit www.blanchardfc.com.


Published in The Patriot Ledger on 3/4/2010