Haverhill: Walter D. Bonin, 88, a native and lifelong resident of Haverhill, died peacefully on Monday, September 10, 2018 at his home.
The son of the late Octave and Clara (Lagasse) Bonin, he attended Saint James Grammar School and was a member of the Haverhill Trade School Class of 1948. A Master Plummer and Gas Fitter, he established the Walter D. Bonin Plumbing and Heating Co. in 1961 and was later joined in the business by his son and daughter. He retired from the well-known Haverhill company in 2011. In his later years he raised and raced Trotters at Rockingham Park in Salem, Saratoga Springs as well as several other race tracks around the New England and New York areas.
A lifelong member of Saint Joseph Parish and All Saints Parish, he also was a member of the Haverhill Lions Club and several local bowling leagues. He enjoyed ballroom dancing with his late wife Jeanne (Roy) Bonin as well as extensive traveling around the world.
Predeceased by his wife Jeanne in 2003, he will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by a son and daughter-in-law, Richard J. "Rick" and Karen Bonin of Kingston, NH, two daughters and a son-in-law, Denyne "Dee" and Dan Sanville of Dunstabile, and Cheryl Bonin of Georgetown, his former son-in-law Gary Quimby of Haverhill, a sister Irene Baron of Westfield, two brothers, Ernest Bonin of Vero Beach, Florida and Tom Bonin of Atkinson, NH, five grandchildren, Alethea Copelas, Adam Spitalny, Leslie Spitalny, Kyle Sanville and Shawn Sanville, a great-grand-daughter, Talia Copelas, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by brothers Robert, Armand and Victor Bonin.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Mr. Bonin's Life Celebration to be held on Thursday, September 13, 2018 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Route 121 A Plaistow, NH. His funeral will be held on Friday morning, September 14, at 9 a.m. from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in All Saints Church, Haverhill. Burial will follow in Saint Joseph Cemetery. To send a message of condolence to the family, please visit www.brooksidechapelfh.com