C. Fraser "Bud" MacDonald Obituary (1930 - 2024)

C. Fraser Bud MacDonald, 94, a resident of Groton, formerly of Chelmsford, Westford and Tyngsboro passed away peacefully at RiverCourt Residences on Tuesday November 19, 2024, in the company of his two sons and daughter in law. He was the beloved husband of the late Betty C. (OHara) with whom he enjoyed 60 years of marriage before her passing in 2021. He was born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia on September 12, 1930, and was the son of the late Alexander and Florence (Fraser) MacDonald. Bud married the love of his life in 1961, and they promptly put all of their possessions in the back of their 58 Chevy and headed south to the States. First stop was Chelmsford to visit his sister Jean on his way to Springfield where his brother Norbert had a job lined up for him. Fate intervened in Chelmsford when Bud was offered a job selling automotive reconditioning products and he said, I can do that. He settled in Chelmsford and worked at this job for over 15 years until the company was shut down in an acquisition. Bud responded by joining forces with a colleague and founding Trans-Mate Products, he proceeded to grow that company for over 30 years turning it into a household name in the car wash chemical business where he employed hundreds of people over the years and manufactured products that were distributed throughout the country and around the world. Bud ran Trans-Mate Products until he was 75 years old when he sold the company and finally retired. Bud raised his family in Chelmsford where they lived for 25 years before he and Betty moved to Westford for the next 20 years, ultimately settling in Tyngsboro for 15 years. He and Betty also spent a great deal of time at their residence in Bradenton, FL. Bud loved his family and Bud loved hockey. He coached hockey for many years in the Chelmsford Hockey Association, and he played hockey himself until he was 50 years old and even went skating with all of his grandchildren when he was 80 years old. He loved to coach his two sons in hockey, to watch them play and to skate with them on the frozen ponds in the winter. He loved to watch his granddaughters figure skate and play hockey, and he loved to play pool with his grandsons. Most of all Bud loved Betty. Bud was proud of his Canadian heritage and equally proud of becoming a United States citizen in 1994, but Bud was most proud of each and every member of his family. He is survived by his son Steve and his wife Stacy of Lowell and his son Tim of Worcester. He is survived by 4 grandchildren, Alexis (San Diego, CA), Lindsay (Superior, CO), Alec (Lancaster, MA) and Aidan (Lancaster, MA). He is also survived by three sisters, Dorothy Perry, Florence OBrien and Jean Stewart; and one brother John as well as many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by three sisters, Kathleen Campbell, Helen Granville and Mary Nolan as well as four brothers, Norbert, Ronald, James and Carl. The family would like to acknowledge the caring staff at RiverCourt Residences, all of the support from the fine people at Ascend Hospice, as well as Jack Whelan and his colleagues Erin Rice and Rebecca Phillips and his personal caregivers (Esther & Mercy) who were all so instrumental in making his long battle with Alzheimers disease more tolerable. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to a local charity of your choice. Funeral Services and Interment will be held privately. Funeral Services and Interment will be held privately.