Obituary of Harold Frank Faulkins

" Harold F. Faulkins, 89, of Federal Street died peacefully on Sunday, September 23 at Bay State Medical Center. Born in Westford, VT, August 8, 1918, he was the son of the late Clinton and Hazel (Macia) Faulkins. Harold grew up on a farm in Vermont and later moved to Chester, MA. He later joined the Army, serving during WWII as a machine gunner. His military service took him to N. Africa, Corsica, Italy and France. Following the war, he moved to Granby, MA and was married in 1947 to Lorraine (Maxwell) who died in 1981. During their early marriage they lived in Granby next to his best friends, Roger and Annette Griswold, now deceased. Harold and his family moved to Belchertown in 1958 where he lived until his death. He worked at American Bosch in Chicopee for 30 years before his first retirement and also served on the Granby Auxiliary Police for many years. He also worked at the former Belchertown State School, retiring for the second time in 1983. In his leisure he loved to hunt and fish and was a rodeo rider in the 1940’s. He will long be remembered for his passion for TV football, hockey and boxing, along with his Yankee ingenuity and his love of rides to Quabbin Reservoir. He will be deeply missed by his children, Gary and his wife Janet of Belchertown, Gail Young and her husband Mitch of Shutesbury, and Glen and his wife Debbie of Chicopee, along with his 7 precious grandchildren Monica Kane, James, Zachary and Erin Young, and Jessica, Christopher, and Kristen Faulkins. He also leaves two step granddaughters, Ally and Erica Dauphinais and his beloved sister in law Elaine Lacoste of Newton and brother in law William Maxwell, Jr. of Chicopee. He also leaves 7 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be Thursday, September 27 at 10:00 a.m. at the Beers & Story Belchertown Funeral Home, 10 Maple St., (Rte. 202) followed by burial with military honors at South Cemetery. Calling hours are Wednesday from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. For those wishing, donations may be made to the VFW Post 8428, Belchertown, MA 01007. "