George Frederick “Bud” Howatt Jr., age 97, of Amherst, New Hampshire, died peacefully on March 10, 2021 at High Pointe House, Haverhill, MA. George was born in Winthrop, MA in 1924, son of George F. Howatt and Dorothy (Spinney) Howatt. He spent his childhood in Winthrop before moving to Natick. He graduated from Newton Trade School in 1942 and Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s School of Industrial Management.

George enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a pilot with the 389th Squadron, 312th Bombardment Group in the Philippines. At the end of the war he was stationed in Japan for nine months before discharge.

Following the war, George became V.P. of National Lace Paper Company, Vice President and Plant Manager of New England Envelope Mfg. Co. and later owner and President of Orion Machine Co. He held several patents on machinery used in the envelope industry.

In 1960 George moved with his family to Holden, MA where he lived for 42 years before moving to Paxton in 2002. He moved to Worcester briefly before moving to Swampscott in 2014 and to New Hampshire in 2018. George was an avid golfer and an accomplished ship modeler. He served briefly as Chairman on the Holden Industrial Committee and also the Paxton Council on Aging.

He was predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Louise (Hagman) Howatt; a sister, Elizabeth Russell; and brothers, Richard Howatt and Robert Howatt.

Family members include his children, Nancy H. Wilson of Amherst, NH, with whom he made his home, Carol D. Costello of Marblehead, and William D. Howatt and his wife, Laurel of Rutland, MA; six grandchildren, Craig Wilson and his wife Moray, Alexander Wilson and his wife Johanna, Kevin Costello and his wife Caitlin, Kristen Black and her husband Stephen, Jason Stoyanoff and his wife Dianna, Lindsay Brown and her wife Melanie Maness and nine great-grandchildren.

At his request there will be no calling hours or memorial service. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to High Pointe House, Home Health Foundation, 360 Merrimack Street, Bldg. 9, Lawrence, MA 01843. Arrangements are in the care of Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, New Hampshire. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please go to www.smith-heald.com.