Howard Griswold Baldwin, 97, of Wethersfield, passed away Saturday, May 29, 2021. Howard was born June 25, 1923 in Wethersfield, one of four children of the late Myron and Marion Baldwin. Howard’s beloved wife of 64 years, Gayle Morgan Baldwin, pre-deceased him on March 30, 2021. He is survived by his two children, Charles Baldwin and his spouse Paula Baldwin of Fayston, VT, and Jayne Lumley and her spouse Ron Lumley of Sarasota, FL, as well as four loving grandchildren Matthew Baldwin and his fiancé Stacie Marre, Zachary Baldwin, Lauren Lumley, and Sarah Lumley.
Growing up in Wethersfield, Howard loved sledding down icy hills, climbing trees, and fishing in the local ponds. He was a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a degree in Business Administration.
Howard was one of the "greatest generation" and served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during WWII. He was attached to the 391st bomb group, 573rd Squadron, stationed in England, serving as a radio operator and gunner on a B-26 Martin Marauder. The crew flew 61 combat missions over 5 months, targeting German occupied airfields in France, Belgium and Holland, German U-boat facilities, V1 buzz bomb launch sites, rail and road bridges, headquarters of German air force and on June 6th, D-Day, the fortifications at Utah Beach. Howard was awarded the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters for meritorious service.
After returning home from the war, Howard worked for Morley, Watson & Baldwin for 35 years in finance and computer programming.
Howard loved the outdoors. He owned a boat every year since 1947 and was an amazing fisherman. The fish just seemed to favor his side of the boat. Howard and Gayle were avid skiers, and they skied the majority of ski areas in the Rockies. Howard spent summers on Cape Cod doing lots of fishing, clamming, and berry picking. He loved making New England style clam chowder and oyster stew. He enjoyed traveling cross country with Gayle in a VW Camper and visited all 48 contiguous states.
Howard was a 14-handicap golfer. He loved to golf many different courses on Cape Cod with his brothers and nephews and in Florida with his daughter and son-in-law.
Howard was a member of the First Church of Christ in Wethersfield.
We love you HamBone!
A graveside service will be held Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at 1:30pm in Village Cemetery, Marsh St., Old Wethersfield. Additional remembrance services will be on August 15th at Target View Beach Association and in Sarasota FL at a time TBD. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the https://coastalstudies.org/ a great organization saving the Right Whales and other marine life around Cape Cod. Howard’s funeral arrangements have been entrusted to The D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, Wethersfield. To extend online expressions of sympathy, please visit desopofuneralchapel.com.
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