EDGAR NEIL MAC DONALD Neil MacDonald, 90, passed away May 22, 2013 at his home in Riverside, CA where he had been a resident for 67 yrs. He was born November 14, 1922 in Rockport, Maine to Agnes and Wilbert Mac Donald. He was the fifth of eight children. Neil served in the Army/Air Force in WWII as a waist-gunner on a B17 Flying Fortress based out of North Africa. He completed 35 bombing missions before being shot down over Foggio, Italy in 1943. He was taken prisoner by the Italians and placed in a local hospital. With the compassion of an Italian doctor he escaped custody and found the advancing American lines. He was returned to his base in North Africa where to his surprise he found that his father, a Merchant Marine, had come to look for him. He returned to the U.S. with his father and was released from service due to his wounds. After the war he began a 36 year career with the Telephone Company. He was sent to Alaska to assist in the implementation of the DEW Line for America's defense during the Cold War. Later in his career he was involved with the initial installation of microwave relay towers in the desert - the new age of telecommunication. He was a member of Magnolia Avenue Baptist Church. Neil is survived by Ruth, his wife of 68 years; 3 children, Sina Hillis (Ray), of Morro Bay, Richard (Cindi) of Moab, Utah and Glenda Love (Mark) of Riverside; six grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter Karen Deal. Funeral services will be held at the Riverside National Cemetery, Thursday, May 30, 2013. Services begin promptly at 10:15 am followed by a Memorial Service at Magnolia Avenue Baptist Church at noon and reception immediately following. "FREEDOM ISN'T FREE"