**Updated Service Announcement**

Howard "Skip" Northrop, Jr passed away peacefully at Waterbury Hospital on Friday, December 4 after a brief illness with COVID-19.  He was 79 years old.

Skip was born on January 4, 1941 in Waterbury, CT, the son of the late Howard Northrop, Sr, and Astrid (Grandell) Northrop.  He attended Kaynor Technical School in Waterbury.

Skip was a loving father, brother, grandfather, uncle, friend and soon to be husband. He will be sorely missed.

He enjoyed many professions over the years: the Town of Middlebury, toolmaker at Waterbury Pressed Metals, owned and operated Skip's Friendly Gulf Service Station in Middlebury, self-employed carpenter, and Police Officer for the Town of Woodbury.  After his retirement from Woodbury, he enjoyed winter months in St. Petersburg, FL with Donna.

Skip was a real people person. He decided he still wanted to work, so he began working at Lowe's in Southington, CT in the electrical department, a job he truly enjoyed.

He was never one to sit back and relax.  He was involved with multiple charitable organizations including The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation because of his loving granddaughter Danielle and great niece Hailey.

Skip was a Master Mason and Past Master of King Solomon Lodge #7 A.F. and A.M. in Woodbury, 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Bodies, Past Potentate of Sphinx Temple Shriners in Newington, member of the Sphinx Motor Patrol, and The Kaabans Shrine Club of Plymouth. He was an Associate member of Egypt Shrine in Tampa, FL. He was a member and Past President of the Blue Knights CT Chapter 1, Blue Knights Secretary of NE Conference, and past member of the Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department.

He is survived by his fiancé Donna Oakes of Wolcott, children Cheri Bailly and her husband Ed of Middlebury, Patti Northrop and Jeff Francis of St. Petersburg, FL, Wendy Northrop and her husband Dave Bunnell of Middlebury, granddaughter Kiana Galli of Sherman Oaks, CA, sister Nancy Northrop of Morristown, AZ, and many nieces and nephews.

He also leaves behind Donna's children Scott and Kate Oakes of Chicago, IL, Lisa and Steve Clark of Farmington and grandchildren, Jake, Seth and Maisey Clark of Farmington, and Zoe Oakes of Chicago, IL.

He is predeceased by the mother of his children, Bea Northrop, his son David Northrop, his granddaughter Danielle Jones, and his sisters Ruth Rooney and Elsie Mellette.

Due to COVID concerns, burial will be private.

A Memorial Service for Skip will take place on Saturday September 18, 2021 at 11:00 A.M at the Middlebury Congregational Church, 1242 Whittemore Rd, Middlebury, CT 06762.  A recording of Skip's service will be available after this date at https://www.youtube.com/c/middleburycongregationalchurch

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the Shriners Hospitals for Children - Springfield, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA, 01104; Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 2777 East Camelback Road Suite 330, Phoenix, AZ 85016; Canterbury School of Florida Hough Campus, 1200 Snell Isle Blvd. NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33704; Middlebury Fire Department, 65 Tucker Hill Road, Middlebury, CT 06762. To leave an online condolence please visitwww.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com.

Shriners Hospital for Children
Web: https://donate.lovetotherescue.org

Middlebury Fire Department and Ambulance
65 Tucker Hill Road, Middlebury CT 06762
Web: https://www.middleburyfire-ct.org/

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
4550 Montgomery Ave Suite 1100 N, Bethesda MD 20814
Tel: 1-301-951-4422
Web: https://www.cff.org/

Canterbury School of Florida Hough Campus
1200 Snell Isle Blvd. NE,, St. Petersburg FL 33704