Donald Edward Troxel

Donald Edward Troxel, age 75, a longtime resident of Chelmsford, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. He was the beloved husband of Deborah B. (Boesch) Troxel, with whom he shared 43 years of marriage.

Donald was born in Washington, D.C., on December 8, 1950, and was the son of the late David and Jean (McIntyre) Troxel. During his youth, he was highly active in the Boy Scouts and proudly achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

Donald earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering and was working toward his doctorate in computer science. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1973 and retired in 1997 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Following his military retirement, Donald took a professional position delivering security systems for a wide range of U.S. Air Force bases. His work supported missions ranging from the security of presidential airlift aircraft and facilities to national space launch complexes.

Donald was a valued mentor and teammate who brought tremendous project management experience to his work. Above all, he enjoyed spending time with his family and was extremely proud of his three daughters.

Donald had many hobbies and interests, including woodworking, spending time outdoors, a tinkering craftsman, collecting multiple versions of flashlights, and keeping his family informed about the latest national recalls. He made every night a date night with Deborah, staying plugged into the entertainment world by watching movies and shows together. An avid follower of astronomy, he also enjoyed watching the development of the SpaceX rocket launch program. Donald could always be counted on to wave goodbye to visitors from his front porch, never going inside until they were out of sight.

In addition to his loving wife, Donald is survived by his three daughters: Brittney (Dan) MacLean of Norway, ME, and their son, Odin; Megan (Will) Galloway of Lincoln, RI, and their children, William and Hazel; and Kathryn (Taylor) Noel of Nashua, NH. He is also survived by his brother, Bruce (Lisa) Troxel of San Antonio, TX, and their children, Adam and Andrea; his brother-in-law, Brian (Kathy) Boesch of Herndon, VA, and their children, Jason and Allison; and his uncle, George Pavese of Utica, NY, and his daughter, Pam.

Floral arrangements are welcome for the visiting hours.

Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, October 25, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen Street, Chelmsford followed by military honors. Funeral services and interment will be held privately.