Harold George Slater, 94, of Enfield, died on Jan. 13, 2016.
He was the much beloved father of Harold Slater, Jr. (register domestic partner Farley Liang), Gerard Slater (m. Ophelia Larocca), Kenneth Slater (m. Maresa Easton), Donald Slater (m. Marian Roman), Jeffery Slater.
Harold Sr. married Florence Anderson on Sept. 9, 1944. He was predeceased by his wife Florence who died on Dec. 13, 2004 and his daughter Marcia Slater who died in April 1950.
Harold Sr. was born on May 18, 1921 in Glastonbury, Connecticut. Harold joined the Army when he was 16 years old. He was stationed in Fort DeRussey, Territory of Hawaii, and later, after Fort DeRussey was shut down, at Fort Shafter, Territory of Hawaii. There he was in the United States Army, Battery C, 64th Coast Artillery Division. He was present at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941 when the Japanese attacked. Later was activated for duty in Europe landing on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, (long after D-Day) moving across France, Belgium and Germany, and participating in the Battle of the Bulge. In Europe, he was in the United States Army, 808th Field Artillery.
During the Korean War, he was stationed in Camp Stewart (now Fort Stewart) in Georgia. There he trained recruits for 18 months before his Army discharge.
Harold Sr. was president of the Nutmeg Chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association for about 20 years until it was disbanded.
Besides his children, Harold Sr. is survived by his grandchildren Jason Slater (m. Julie Nelson), Eric Slater and Douglas Slater (m. Kathryn Welteroth) who he lived with in Enfield for the last nine years. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren Jenna Slater, Madelina Slater, many step-children, step-grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family.
