----"FAMILY WAS HIS LIFE"----

Walter Paul Schwabe II, of Hampden, MA, 83, died peacefully February 5, 2014. Walter is the son of the late Herbert Bernard Schwabe and Katherine (Gilboy) Schwabe. Walter was born in Bridgeport, Ct., attended Suffield Academy '49 and then went on to attend Brown University. In his youth he played tennis on the Junior Davis Cup team and excelled in many sports. Walter served in the military branch of the Army during the Korean War. He had a very successful career in sales with New England Telephone & Telegraph and AT&T for over 30 years. Most of his adult life was dedicated to coaching and developing young athletes. Mr. Schwabe served as President for the Recreation Association of Hampden, MA. He also served as the President of the Hampden Lions Club. Walter was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, an elite organization of the retired executive telephone workers. Walter was extremely devoted to his wife, Judy and their children. He will be remembered by many as a person who loved cooking and entertaining surrounded by friends and family at home. Walter's later years were spent with Judy at Orchard Valley at Wilbraham, where Judy still resides. Walter is survived by his most loving family to include, his devoted wife of 57 years, Judith (Mann) Schwabe and his four children; W. Paul Schwabe III and wife Pamela, Gretchen Schwabe Wilcox, Beth Kathryn Osborne and her husband Peter, and Ingrid Lynn Schwabe. He also leaves 5 loving grandchildren, Meghan Kathryn Miller, Wesley Mansfield Wilcox, Bridget Browning Wilcox, Blake Lynn Miller and Seth Bradford Chaffee. Walter was preceded in his death by son-in-law Daniel J. Wilcox, husband of Gretchen, who died at the age of 41. The funeral will be held at the West Springfield Curran-Jones Funeral Home Thursday February 13th at 11:00am. Visiting hours will be Wednesday, February 12th from 4:30 – 6:30pm. For more details please visit curranjones.com. In lieu of flowers, please forward donations to The Walter P. Schwabe II, '49 Fund at Suffield Academy. Suffield Academy, 185 North Main Street, Suffield, CT 06078. A memorial will be constructed in his memory to benefit the athletes of the school.