Walter Shumbo

Walter Shumbo had a specific destination two years ago.  He boarded a Carnival Cruise Line ship for Hawaii, having one of the best times of his life.  He had the hope that one day some family members and friends would visit him there.  Sadly, Walter passed away from cancer in Hilo, HI on Dec. 22, 2018 at 63.  Born in Connecticut, he spent most of his life there, attending East Haddam Elementary and Hale-Ray High School.  He lived in several places in the following years, California, Catalina Island and Block Island.  During his life, he had various occupations but loved working with his hands.  Walter liked living near the ocean, fishing and spending time at a beach.  He had a theme oriented talent for creating very detailed miniature buildings out of book matches and toothpicks, carving walking canes out of tree branches and building unique bird houses.  His passion was music by The Beatles, owning Beatles t-shirts and was an avid collector of Beatles photos.  He is survived by his mother, Ruth (Zeleny) Shumbo and her companion, Austin Gardner of Colchester; brothers, Theodore Shumbo and his wife, Jennifer of E. Hampton, Joseph Shumbo and his companion, Kim Pruitt and daughters, Caley and Corrin of New Hartford, Thomas Shumbo and his wife, Dawn of Colchester; two half- brothers, Steven Shumbo and his wife Kim, their children, Braden and Samantha of Plainville, Alan Shumbo of Farmington; a half sister, Lisa Elliot of Manchester; Walter also leaves several nieces and nephews, Lesley Kapernaros, husband Dean and son Blake of E. Hampton, Sarah Palmer and companion, Josh Harris and their children, Barrett, Jaxson, Olivia and Ella of Englewood, FL, Austin Shumbo and fiancé Katy Petrie of Smyrna, GA, Ashley Shumbo and companion, Ryan Wetmore of Colchester, Jake Shumbo of Colchester; and many aunts, cousins and extended family in the Shumbo and Zeleny families.  Walter was predeceased by his father, Theodore E. Shumbo, Sr. and grandparents, Bertha and Richard Zeleny and Mary and Stanley Shumbo, all of whom were of Moodus,.  Visitation Saturday, February 9, 2019 from 10 – 11 am at the Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home, 167 Old Hartford Rd., Colchester before an 11 am Chapel Service.  Burial will be private. 

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