Nathaniel H. Avery Jr., 81, formerly of Old Saybrook, passed away March 11th at Mary Elizabeth Nursing Center.
Born in New London on May 16, 1924 to Nathaniel H. Avery Sr. and Martha Haven Beckwith Avery, he was a direct descendent of Capt. James W. Avery and one of Groton’s oldest families. He was a graduate of Fitch High School, Class of 1942. He later served in the US Coast Guard Air Detachment from 1943-1946. He was Past Commander of the Hugo Simonelli Post, VFW.
He retired in 1974 from the State of Connecticut Correction Division.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Alice Wilson Avery, and together they had three children; Marianne Stepanik and her husband George of Montville, James W. Avery and his wife Kim of Olympia, WA, and Sara C. Wilson and her husband David of Groton. He was also predeceased by his second wife, Irene Estes Avery, and together they had two children, Melody Smith and her husband William of Bozeman, MT and Steve M. Avery and his wife Karen of Springfield, OR; 15 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be conducted at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Old Saybrook on Saturday, March 25th at 2pm. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Burial is private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mary Elizabeth Patient Recreation Fund, 28 Broadway, Mystic CT 06355.
To send a note of remembrance/condolence to his family, please click the link below.