Haverhill: Harold A. "Sonny" Metthe, 83, a native and lifelong resident of Haverhill, died peacefully on February 8, 2019 at Wingate at Haverhill with his family by his side.
Raised and educated in Haverhill, son of the late Raymond A. and Ida (Walker) Metthe, he attended Saint James Grammar School and Haverhill High School. Sonny enlisted in the U.S. Navy, during the Korean Conflict, serving as a Seaman from 1952 until his honorable discharge in 1956, and was a recipient of the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He continued service in the U.S. Naval Reserves until 1960.
He was first employed in the local shoe industry and later worked in the shipping department of Eastern Canvas Co. He was a member of the Haverhill Auxiliary Police Department and was also appointed a Provisional Police Office for the City of Haverhill. He later worked as a security guard for Merrimack Valley Security and Eagle Security as well as a second shift Supervisor of Security at Northern Essex Community College, Lawrence Campus, for twenty years until his final retirement.
A longtime resident of Newton St. and Mission Towers in Haverhill, he was a member of Saint James Parish of Haverhill and Life Member and Past Commander of Post 147 of the Am Vets of Haverhill. He was also a Life Member of the Lorraine Post of the VFW of Haverhill, The VFW Post 15022 of North Andover, and The Haverhill Lodge of Elks.
Sonny was an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots, Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics along with his lifelong friend David Muldowney and enjoyed visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown with him. They were both longtime volunteers for the Boston Marathon.
He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by two brothers and sisters-in-law, Raymond A. and Esther Metthe of Haverhill and Donald and Carol Metthe of Bucksport, Maine, two sisters, Dorothy Jesionowski of Clearwater, Florida and Patricia Herley, of South Lawrence, several nieces, nephews and cousins and his lifelong friend David Muldowney and his family of Haverhill.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the many caregivers at the Wingate at Haverhill and Compassus Hospice for the loving care given to Sonny during his illness.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Sonny's Life Celebration to be held on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 from 10 a.m. until 12 Noon at Berube-Comeau Funeral Home, 47 Broadway, Haverhill. His funeral service will follow at 12:30 p.m. in the funeral home. Burial with Military Honors will take place in Saint James Cemetery, Haverhill, immediately after the funeral on Wednesday. Relatives and friends who wish may make memorial donations to Mission Towers Activity Fund, 180 Water St., Haverhill, MA. To send a message of condolence to the family, please visit www.berubecomeau.com