Elton "Mac" Prescott McFarland, 91, died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Surprise, Ariz., on May 1. He was born in Bridgeport on March 3, 1926, and was the son of the late Elton Alluie and Helen Agatha Maguire McFarland.

His wife, Alice May Fernald; his three sons and their wives, James and Peggy of Newtown, John and Judy of Fort Mohave, Ariz., and Terrence and Jill of Stratford; his eight grandchildren, Heather, Melissa, Devin, Colby, Caitlin, Molly, Shane, and Ellery; his eight great-grandchildren; his brother-in-law, Alfred Fernald, of Stratford; and his many nieces and nephews survive him.

His brothers, Walter and Jack; his sister, Lilla Belle "Lynn" Simmons; and his daughter, Bootsi Gilbert, predeceased him.

With his parent's permission, Mr McFarland enlisted in the Navy on March 31, 1943, at the age of 17. Following his discharge, he joined the Insulators Local Union #33 in Wallingford, where he was a lifelong member working as a pipe coverer until his retirement. He took pride in providing for his family; and in addition to loving them, he enjoyed the company of his many dogs right up until the last year of his life.

Mr McFarland married Alice May Fernald of Stratford on December 24, 1948, and they remained together for 69 years

The family wishes to thank the staff at Best Assisted Living of Surprise Arizona and Companion Hospice and Palliative Care of Maricopa County in Arizona for the excellent care that they provided to Mr McFarland and continue to provide to Alice.

A memorial service will be conducted on Saturday, June 3, at 11 am, in the Newtown Christian Church at 210 Sugar Street, Newtown. He will be laid to rest at the State of Connecticut Veterans' Cemetery in Middletown.

Memorial donations may be made to the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization at asbestosdiseaseawareness.org/donate.