Harold K Waite

East Longmeadow- Harold K. Waite, 95, passed away peacefully on November 30,2019 at the Soldier’s Home in Holyoke. He was the husband of the late Rita (Beauchemin) Waite. Born in Springfield to the late Milton S. and Irene (Joubert ) Waite, he was also predeceased by his two brothers Francis Waite of North Carolina and Arthur Waite of Springfield.
Harold served his country honorably during WW II in the United States Navy as an Aviation Machinist Mate First Class on the USS Wasp. His main duty with the Navy was as a Rear Gunner in the Grumman TBF Avenger. He later worked as an Engineer with Titeflex Corp., retiring after 51 years. Harold was a parishioner of St. Michael’s Church, East Longmeadow
Harold was also well known as an avid hunter and fisherman, tying his own fishing flies and deer hunting with a bow and arrow.
He leaves two sons Dennis Waite and his wife Bev, of East Longmeadow, Richard Waite and his wife Charlene, of Agawam; two daughters, Sharon Mutzig and her husband Andy, of Hudson Oaks, TX, Kathleen Keefe and her late husband Robert, of Southwick; a brother, Leonard Waite and his wife Virginia, of Belchertown; ten grandchildren, Bonnie Rivera and her husband Tony, Andrea Kiernan and her husband Ryan, Erin Illingsworth and her husband Mark, Candace Halsted and her husband Thomas, Amy Gonyea and her husband Mark, Richard Waite, Theresa Erwin and her husband Michael, Douglas Mutzig and his wife Lisa, Brenton Keefe and his wife Casey, Jonathon Keefe; 10 great grand children, Tabitha, James “Drew”, Chase, Aidan, Nicholas, Ella, Sean, Victoria, Cody, Carson, Luke, Colby; along with nieces, nephews, cousins.
Calling hours will take place from 5:00PM to 8:00PM on Wednesday (December 4, 2019) in the Forastiere Smith Family Funeral Home, 220 North Main St., East Longmeadow. Funeral services will begin at 9:00AM on Thursday (December 5, 2019) from the funeral home with a 10:00AM Liturgy of Christian Burial celebrated in St. Michael’s Church, 128 Maple St., East Longmeadow. Burial with military honors will follow in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Springfield. In lieu of flowers, donations in Harold’s memory may be made to DAV- Disabled American Veterans https://www.dav.org/help-dav/ www.forastiere.com