- Date Of Birth: February 2, 1935
- Date Of Death: May 14, 2020
- State: Massachusetts
Walter Snow Root, 85, of Easthampton, died peacefully on Thursday May 14, 2020 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital as a result of advanced dementia which he fought for five years. He was born on February 2, 1935 to Walter Francis Root and Violet (Atwood) Root In Northampton, Ma He was raised by his father Walter and Marjorie Metcalf Root, his stepmother. He grew up in Easthampton and was the middle child of nine. In his youth he helped out his family farming apples and remained a farmer in his mind for his entire life.
Graduating Easthampton high school in 1952 he worked in several area factories eventually joining the military in 1956. When he returned home he became an intermittent police officer on the Easthampton Police Force. In 1960 he married Virginia “Ginger” ( Laschever).
In his younger days he was a member of the Easthampton Jaycees and was a coach of a Lassie League soft ball team and enjoyed volunteering as a Girl Scout father. Watching vegetables grow was a passion. He was known in the neighborhood to have the best sweet corn ever grown. He enjoyed trying to improve his game of Golf in retirement. Many times one could find him at a table playing poker, blackjack, pitch, cribbage and crazy eights, the later with the grandkids who all affectionally called him “Hiya”. His biggest adventure was car and cruise ship when the family was young finally graduating to airplanes.
Walt was pre-deceased by his parents and siblings Mildred, Doris, Eldora and Warren.
Walt is survived by his wife Ginger of 59 years He also leaves his daughters Debra Hathaway her husband Steven Hathaway and grandsons Jacob and Dustin Hathaway of Easthampton, Wendy Powell her husband John Powell and grandchildren Jack and Sarah Powell of Seattle, Washington and great granddaughter Roxy Hathaway, his sister Virginia Guistina, brothers Francis, Fred and Benjamin Root plus many nieces and nephews. He also leaves his funtastic fur-babies Sheba and Otis.
