Walter Peel Hainsworth Jr

02/15/2004

Walter Peel Hainsworth Jr., 89, of State Line Road died Sunday at Berkshire Medical Center after being admitted Feb. 6. Born in Pittsfield on Aug. 4, 1914, son of Walter and Amelia Peel Hainsworth, he moved with his family to Springfield and attended Carew Street and Chestnut Street elementary schools. He was a graduate of Springfield Technical High School. Mr. Hainsworth was employed by Westinghouse Corp. for a short period, and later worked for the Symonds Corp., operating one of the first hydraulic elevators in New England. From 1939 to 1940, he attended Tri State College in Angola, Ind., and returned to Springfield in 1940 ,where he worked at the Springfield Armory until 1943. He served during World War II in Europe from 1943 until 1946. He then went back to work at Springfield Armory until 1949. He resumed his studies at Tri State College in 1949, graduating in 1951. He then was employed by Westinghouse until 1953, when he went to work for General Electric in Pittsfield as a designer/draftsman assigned to station arrestor production design engineering, retiring Aug. 29, 1975. Mr. Hainsworth was a ham and CB radio operator who built and repaired his own radios. An avid motorcyclist and sports car racing enthusiast, he enjoyed driving his MG sports car and attending races at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut and other New England tracks. He was a life member of the American Motor Cycle Association, and had been a member of the Greylock Riders Motorcycle Club. He was also a member of the Monument Royal Arch Chapter of Great Barrington. His closest survivors are several nieces and nephews. FUNERAL NOTICE -- The funeral for the late Walter Hainsworth will be held Friday, Feb. 20, at 11 a.m. at FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME, Great Barrington, with the Rev. John Tarrant, pastor of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Stockbridge. Burial will follow in West Stockbridge Village Cemetery. The family will receive friends tomorrow from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. He is survived by a sister-in-law, Helen L. Hainsworth of Lenox; his nephews and nieces, William B. Kie & Vivian R. Kie, both of West Stockbridge; Rita M. Goodno of Pittsfield; Robert A. Hainsworth of Lenox; Shirley Hainsworth of NC; Cindy Carron of Wilbraham; Lucile Hainsworth of Mobile, Ala., and Samuel, James and Harry Mullins, all of Hot Springs, Ark., and numerous other grandnieces and nephews. Mr. Hainsworth was predeceased by a brother, Kenneth H. Hainsworth of Lenox, MA, and two sisters, Regina M. Kie of West Stockbridge and Mildred C. Mullins of Hot Springs, Ark. Donations, in lieu of flowers, can be made to the West Stockbridge Rescue Squad or the West Stockbridge Council on Aging to benefit the new Senior Center. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevensfuneralhome.com .

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