Walter S. Bailey

Walter Bailey
Walter Stanley Bailey of Plainfield passed peacefully on Saturday, April 12, 2025,
at home amongst family. Walter was born in Worcester, MA on May 26 th, 1937, to
the late Gwendolyn O. Bailey and Emmanuel J. Wells and grew up in the historic
Laurel-Clayton neighborhood with brothers Bart and Paul.
Walter attended Commerce High School in Worcester and was an all-star
basketball player and team captain. He served in the United States Army from
1957-60 and spent time overseas in Germany and Korea. He attended Rutgers-
Newark from 1963-66, where he played three varsity seasons for the Bombers
and earned the nickname, "Grand Ole Man" due to his "advanced age" of 28. He
notably set the college's all-time rebounding record and broke the 1000-point
mark. He received his degree and went on to teach English and coach basketball
at Highland Park High School for many years thereafter. He moved on to other
endeavors, eventually retiring from KenDeisel, Inc. of Edison, NJ in 2022.
Walter loved to do crossword puzzles and play chess and cards, especially a
lively game of bid whist. He was proud to say he bought a lottery ticket every day
"rain or shine" until he was unable to drive. His lifelong passion was basketball as
a player, coach, and fan. He rarely missed a game, and he was known to recall
the most specific of basketball-related trivia spanning his lifetime. He was an avid
reader and had a great love of books and literature. He also really enjoyed
traveling with wife Cherylle, especially to their favorite destination of Niagara
Falls.
Walter is survived by four loving children, Cheryl A. Bailey of Grenada Hills, CA,
Erica L. Bailey of Portland, OR, Justin (Liz) S. Bailey of Red Beach, NZ, and
Joslyn C. Bailey of Winston-Salem, NC; six grandchildren, Brittney, Clyde, Nova,
Jayden, Dylan and Cypress; two great grandchildren, Ella and Kai; his brother
Paul F. Bailey and wife Carmen of Spencer, MA, many nieces and nephews, and
ex-wife Shirley Daniels Bailey. Walter was also blessed to leave behind three
bonus children: Kourtnie (Donny), Valerie (Justin), and Raymond (Tameeka);
bonus grandchildren Karriem, Saige, Kai, and Raymond, and bonus great-
grandson Aidan.
Walter is predeceased by parents, Gwendolyn Bailey and Emmanuel Wells,
beloved wife Bradley "Cherylle" Bowers-Bailey, brother Robert "Bart" Bailey, son
Bruce "Luciano" Bailey, grandson, Jordan Bailey, and ex-wife Rosemarie
Consiglio Bailey.