Harold Jerry Waterman Jr.

WALLINGFORD- Harold J. Waterman Jr, 87, of Wallingford, beloved husband of the late Sharon Waterman, departed this life on May 18, 2021 at Yale New Haven Hospital. Harold fought a stoic battle against an unknown illness while continuing to display his trademark sense of humor.

Harold was born in Goshen, IN on April 2, 1934 to the late Harold and Elizabeth (Wohlford) Waterman. Harold learned gunsmithing while attending Trinidad State in Trinidad, Colorado and in 1954 joined the United States Marine Corps where he served as a Match Armorer and member of the USMC Rifle and Pistol Team until his discharge in 1957. Upon leaving the Corps, Harold attended Tri State University in Angola, IN where he earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering. Harold spent 56 years in the Firearms industry, working for eight different companies, and holding a variety of positions in Engineering, Research and Development and Management. He retired from Marlin Firearms in 2005 as the Manager of New Product Development although he continued to consult for them for several more years. Harold is well known throughout the Shooting Sports community and held several patents which still stand today. Harold was also an active member of several Industry Associations, including the Association of Firearms and Toolmark Examiners (AFTE), the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute (SAAMI) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

Harold will be sadly missed by all who knew him for his wit, dry sense of humor, knowledge, and wisdom. He is survived by his four children: Harold Waterman III and his wife, Kathy, of Massachusetts, Sarah Joseph and her husband, Frantz, of Colorado, Aaron Waterman of Wallingford, and Samuel Waterman, of Wallingford. Harold also leaves behind five grandchildren, Ryan, Tyler, Aaron, Cameron, and Isabelle as well as two great grandchildren Brady and Brooke.

A visitation with family and friends will be held on Tuesday, June 1st from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at the B.C. Bailey Funeral Home, 273 S. Elm St. Wallingford, CT 06492 with a funeral service to be held at 6:00 PM in the funeral home. A graveside service will be held on Thursday, June 3rd at 11:00am at In Memoriam Cemetery, 18 Maplewood Ave, Wallingford. To leave a message of remembrance, please visit www.BaileyCares.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the FIDELCO Guide Dog Foundation, www.fidelco.org.

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