Walter E. Mattson Jr., 70
GREAT BARRINGTON — Walter E. Mattson Jr., 70, of High Street died Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008, at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester.
Born in Great Barrington on Jan. 20, 1938, the son of Virginia Bosaloski Mattson of Great Barrington and the late Walter E. Mattson Sr., he attended local schools and was a graduate of the former Searles High School. He served in the Army during the 1950s.
A fixture of the summer season in Great Barrington, Mr. Mattson owned and operated an ice cream truck for many years and generations of children knew him as the "ding dong man." Whether at Lake Mansfield, at a local ball game, or driving down the street, children knew who was coming by the song his ice cream truck played.
A talented painter, he won awards and shared his gift with patients at Fairview Commons, where he volunteered painting portraits for the residents. A sports fans who especially enjoyed hockey and baseball, he followed the Springfield Falcons and the Boston Red Sox.
He was a communicant of St. Peter's Church and a member of the Great Barrington Historical Society.
Besides his mother, he leaves a brother, Carl Mattson and his, wife Marie, of Kettle Falls, Wash.; a sister, Diane Czepiel of Burlington, Conn.; two nieces, Charlene Doll of Torrington, Conn., and Shannon Surreira of Terryville, Conn.; a nephew, Robert Czepiel of Burlington, Conn., and five great-nieces and -nephews.
His father died in 1984.
FUNERAL NOTICE — Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, Sept. 5, at 10 a.m. from St. Peter's Church in Great Barrington by the Rev. William Murphy. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery.
His family will receive friends on Thursday, Sept. 4, from 5 until 7 at Finnerty and Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington.
Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Great Barrington Historical Society through funeral home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevens.com.