Donald Read Chute, 93, Retired 30-Year Bose Employee, Former Framingham Town Meeting Member

FRAMINGHAM – Donald Read Chute, 93, long-time resident of Framingham, passed away peacefully on Jan. 9, 2021. 

He was the beloved husband of 70 wonderful years of marriage to Isabel Lydia Baillie (Payne).

Don was born in 1927 in Allston to Edward and Bessie (Hinckley) Chute, and grew up in Waltham, along with his two brothers. When he was 21, he met the love of his life Isabel on the beach in Ocean Park, Maine, and in 1950, they were married. They eventually moved to Framingham where they raised four children.

Always smiling, kind, gracious, giving and loving, he leaves a gold-standard legacy as a family man. Isabel was always first and foremost in everything he did, as were his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  He had a unique and special relationship with each of his grandchildren and loved celebrating and sharing in all of their milestones and successes.

Don held a variety of positions in several different companies, but the one he loved most was being employed at Bose Corporation. Originally hired in 1973 as the company’s first machinist, by the time he retired in 2003, he had built up multiple machine and model shops with many state-of-the-art capabilities.  He also enjoyed traveling to trade shows around the country with Isabel at his side.

Don was a gardener’s gardener, starting first with a small square in the backyard and expanding every year.  In true form, much of the harvest would be given to friends and family.  He also loved playing golf and watching his beloved Patriots.

He devoted a significant portion of his life to serving God and others. He was active in church life for decades at Park Street Baptist Church, holding many leadership roles, singing in the choir, serving dinners at local shelters, and leading various social groups.

In addition, he served for many years as a Framingham Town Meeting member, and surpassed the Red Cross 15-gallon milestone for blood donation.

Besides Isabel, he is survived by his three sons, Jeffrey Chute and his wife Pamela of Ocean Park, ME, George Chute and his wife Kathy of Teaticket, MA, and Bruce Chute and his wife Lynn of Northborough, MA, his grandchildren, Benjamin and his wife Cynthia, Andrew, Gracie, Harry, Maggie, Kaitlin, Erin and Megan Chute, his great-grandchildren, Isabella and Kurtis Chute.  He was the loving brother of William Chute and his late wife Marjorie of Duxbury, MA, and Edward Chute and his wife Nancy of Falmouth, MA. He was predeceased by his beloved daughter Kathleen Chute.

Due to COVID restrictions, a celebration of life is planned for later in the year when friends and family can safely gather together again. Since he always had a book in hand, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the library he loved in Ocean Park, Maine by sending to Ocean Park Association, PO Box 7296, Ocean Park, ME, or at http://oceanpark.org/gifts.html and select “Memorial gifts”. Please write “IMO Don Chute/Library” on the memo line (check) or comment field (online).

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Norton Funeral Home, Framingham.

To leave a message of condolence and sign the online guestbook, please visit www.nortonfuneralhome.com.