Donald Warren Lincoln

Donald Warren Lincoln, 85, a lifelong resident of Hingham, MA, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at the Pat Roche Hospice Home in Hingham. The son of the late Chief C. Warren and Meda B. (Crawford) Lincoln, Don was born on July 17, 1937, at Hingham Hospital.  

Husband of the late, beloved Sally A. (Magee) Lincoln, Don leaves his three devoted sons, Donald (Cheryl) Lincoln, of West Newbury, MA; Brian (Ellen) Lincoln, of Salisbury, MA; and Kevin (Gina) Lincoln, of Plymouth, NH; and his loving grandchildren, Connor, Michael, Brendan, and Kelly Lincoln. He was the proud older brother of the late Robert Lincoln, of The Villages, FL; Wendall (Joan Dalton), of Greenland, NH; Shirley (Robert) Lang, of Piermont, NH; and Alan, of The Villages, FL; as well as the brother-in-law of Betsy Lincoln, of The Villages, FL; and Kenneth Magee (Antoinette Fabela), of Auburn, CA. Don is also survived by many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Don grew up on South Street and was educated in the Hingham public school system, graduating from Hingham High School in 1955. He went on to graduate from Northeastern University in 1971 with a BS in Industrial Technology. 

Don proudly served in the U.S. Navy from 1956 to 1960 aboard the USS Charles H. Roan (DD-853) and the USS Hale (DD-642) as a Fire Control Technician. During his missions, he crossed the Equator and the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, passed through the Suez and Panama canals, and patrolled the waters off South America, the Philippines, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, and the Persian Gulf. In later years, Don took enormous pleasure in reconnecting and reminiscing with shipmates at ship reunions, and he was an active member of the Tin Can Sailors and the American Legion Post #120 in Hingham. 

After serving his country, Don married Sally A. Magee, raising their sons on Whiton Ave. and later on Hull St., in a home that his grandfather built. He was employed for 35 years as a Quality Control Engineer at Honeywell (Honeywell-Bull), and spent the following decade as a 9-1-1 dispatcher for the Town of Hingham, a role for which he was uniquely suited, given his wealth of knowledge of the town. 

Don was also actively involved with the Hingham Fire Department, first joining in 1960 as a call firefighter on Ladder 1 and working his way to the rank of Captain on Engine 2, in which capacity he served until the call department was disbanded in 1995. He not only relished putting out fires but deeply appreciated the camaraderie and lifelong friends he made and eagerly looked forward to events such as Firemen's Sunday and the annual Ladder 1 clambakes at Charlie Cushing's house.   

In 1972, Don along with Lloyd Linscott, Charlie Cushing, and Bob "Monty" Montgomery purchased an exceedingly rusted 1922 Maxim Ladder truck, the first motorized ladder truck in Hingham--which became the start of what is now known as the Bare Cove Fire Museum. Don was a smiling, waving fixture in the Hingham 4th of July, Quincy Flag Day, and Weymouth parades as part of the museum's entries. 

Don also spent countless hours over many years in hockey rinks across New England and beyond, both as a coach and as a fan, watching his sons play from youth hockey through college. He served as President of the Hingham Youth Hockey Association and remained a loyal supporter of the Hingham High Harbormen, where he could often be found in his spot along the glass behind the net, as well as the Westfield State University hockey team.

Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Don, and Don knew most everyone--finding a friend no matter where his travels took him--knows that he was a genuine and kindhearted man, with a ready laugh, a helping hand, and a twinkle in his eyes. He had a boundless, deep-rooted love and pride for his family and friends, his Hingham roots and connection with the town, the Navy, and firefighting. He was an enthusiastic, gifted storyteller, with a fondness for the beach, especially Nantasket Beach sea clams that rolled up in the winter storms, and, boy, did he like ice cream. 

Anchors Aweigh, Dearest Don. Through our last night on shore, drink to the foam, Until we meet once more: Here's wishing you a happy voyage. 

Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at the Downing Cottage Funeral Chapel, 21 Pond St., Hingham, from 4-7 pm. Relatives and friends are cordially invited. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, May 24, at 2 pm, at the South Shore Baptist Church, 578 Main Street, Hingham. Burial will follow at High Street Cemetery, Hingham.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bare Cove Fire Museum, 45 Bare Cove Park Drive, Hingham, MA 02043; Harbormen Hockey Boosters, PO Box 580, Hingham, MA 02043; or Pat Roche Hospice House, 86 Turkey Hill Lane, Hingham, MA 02043.

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