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Kathleen Ellen Colby
DANBURY - Kathleen Ellen (Phelps) Colby, 55, died April 7, 2004, following a sudden illness.
She was born on Nov. 24, 1948, in Franklin, the daughter of Myrl C. and June (Reed) Phelps Sr. She attended the Elmwood School and Andover High School and graduated from Bristol High School before going on to earn a degree in liberal arts from Plymouth State College.
She worked as an art teacher, in local restaurants and factories, and most recently, as the Senior Citizens Director for the Danbury Community Center.
She had been a 4-H leader, member of the Danbury Recreation Department, and an independent craftsperson.
She enjoyed gardening, arts, walking and spending time with family.
She is survived by two sons, Doug Colby Jr. of Danbury, and Greydon Colby of Alexandria; a daughter, Jennie Colby of Harmony, Maine; three granddaughters, one grandson, three step-grandchildren, and a grandchild on the way; her mother, June (Reed) Phelps of Danbury; 10 siblings, June Hubbard of Landaff, Don Phelps of Chelan, Wash., Myrl Phelps Jr. of Hammond, N.Y., James Phelps, Dennis Phelps, Stanley Phelps, Ruby Hill and Audrey Pellegrino, all of Danbury, Ruth Bidwell of Penacook, and Daniel Phelps of Hill; aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, and nieces.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, April 10, at 1 p.m. at the Phelps Family Cemetery on Ragged Mountain Road. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Seniors Program at the Danbury Community Center, High Street, Danbury, NH 03230. Chadwick Funeral Service of New London, NH is in charge of arrangements.
Richard P. Arms
GILMANTON - Richard Philip Arms, 84, of Gilmanton Iron Works, died at Lakes Region Hospital in Laconia, on April 7, 2004. He had been ill for some time.
He was born March 31, 1920, in Philadelphia, the son of Edith W. and John H. R. Arms. He graduated from Yale Engineering School, earning both a B.E. and a M.E. in mechanical engineering.
He worked for General Electric for 49 years in Lynn, Mass., and in Cincinnati, Ohio. During World War II he designed the turbines that allowed B-36s to reach Tokyo from the U.S. mainland. He was engineering manager for the engines used in the B-47 bomber and in the USAF F-86 Sabre fighter in Korea. Prior to his retirement in 1981, he worked on GE helicopter engines.
An active member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, he served during the 1950s as a director of the Cincinnati board and as national chairman of the ASME Aviation and Space Division. In 1964, he co-chaired the first joint ASME-SAE national Aviation Conference in New York. He was also a member of the Aeronautics and Astronautics Association.
Mr. Arms played tennis enthusiastically for 50 years. In addition, he was an accomplished flutist and played with several small symphony orchestras, including the Melrose Massachusetts Symphony.
After retirement, he and his wife moved to Gilmanton Iron Works, where he became active in the Gilmanton Historical Society. He served as president and museum curator, and also on the Board of Directors.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Elizabeth Widger Arms of Gilmanton Iron Works; a daughter, Judith Arms of Seattle; a grandson, Noah Sorscher of California; and a granddaughter, Sarah Sorscher of Seattle.
He was predeceased by a son, Bradley W. Arms, who died in 2001.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Gilmanton Historical Society, PO Box 236, Gilmanton, NH 03237-0236, or to the Gilmanton Year-Round Library Association, PO Box 413, Gilmanton, NH 03837.
The Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, is in charge of the arrangements.
Robert Blaisdell Jr.
ROCHESTER - Robert Max "Robby" Blaisdell Jr., 45, of 14 Easter Lane died Thursday April 8, 2004, at his home after a long illness.
He was born May 3, 1958 in Laconia, the son of Robert M. Blaisdell Sr. and Bertha (Bergeron) Blaisdell.
Mr. Blaisdell had resided in Rochester since 1999 and prior to that lived in Whitefield.
He was a machinist for Harris Graphics and later for United Technologies in Connecticut. For a time he owned and operated a tourist hotel called Blaisdells Hampshire Lodge.
He was a communicant of St. Mary Church, Rochester.
Among his hobbies he enjoyed fishing, camping, gardening and cars. He had an interest in family genealogy, being the 12th generation of John and Priscilla Alden. Most of all he loved to spend time with his family.
Survivors include his parents of Rochester; brothers, Michael and wife Melissa of Luverne, Ala., Alan and wife Nancy of Portsmouth, Gary and wife Denise of Rochester; sisters, Beth and husband Scott Baker of Waldorf, Md., Kelly and husband Claude Gagnon of Somersworth; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and cousins. He also leaves his dog "Guber."
Family and friends may visit Monday 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home, 86 South Main St., Rochester.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Tuesday at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Church, Lowell Street, Rochester, with Father Pierre Baker as celebrant. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Rochester.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Cocheco Valley Humane Society, 262 County Farm Road, Dover, NH 03820.
Tom O’Riordan
LACONIA - Tom O'Riordan, 77, of 1014 Weirs Blvd., and Boynton Beach, Fla., died Tuesday, April 6, 2004, after a short, courageous battle with cancer.
Mr. O'Riordan was born May 15, 1926 in Abbeyfeale, County Limerick, Ireland, the son of Patrick and Bridget O'Riordan.
He immigrated to Boston in 1948. He later served two years in the U.S. Army stationed in Germany. Upon his return from Germany, he went to work for Whitings Milk and moved to Needham, Mass. But the "American Dream" took hold and he set out to own his own business.
Over his years as an entrepreneur, Mr. O'Riordan owned a number of businesses as well as several restaurants in the Boston area, including The Olde Irish Ale House.
He went into semi-retirement and moved his family to the Lakes Region in 1978. He was an avid golfer, having been a member of Oak Hill Golf Course since 1970. He also enjoyed boating and, prior to becoming a Florida snowbird, was active in snowmobiling. But most of all, he loved working in his yard.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Eileen (Greaney) O'Riordan of Laconia; and seven children and their spouses, Patrick and Karen O'Riordan of Delray Beach, Fla., Tom and Mary O'Riordan of Medway, Mass., John and Betsy O'Riordan of Mendon, Mass., Eileen and Tom Powers of Mechanicsburg, Pa., Steve and Sandi O'Riordan of Laconia, Breeda and Dan Kobler of Rochester, N.Y., and Michael and Colleen O'Riordan of Laconia; 14 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; three sisters, Sister Mary O'Riordan of Philadelphia, Sheila O'Connel and Eileen Murphy, both of Limerick, Ireland; many nephews and nieces.
He was predeceased by six brothers and a sister, in both Ireland and Boston.
Calling hours will be held on Sunday, April 11, from 4-9 p.m. at the Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, using the Carriage House entrance. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Lakes Church, 50 Washington St., Lakeport, on Monday, April 12, at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Bayside Cemetery, Laconia.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, 1663 Bristol Pike, Bensalem, PA 19020.
The Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, is in charge of the arrangements. .
Andrew T. Champion
LACONIA - Andrew T. Champion Jr., 72, of 177 Sheridan St., Lakeport, died Wednesday evening, April 7, 2004 in his residence following a lengthy illness.
He was born in Boston on Aug. 18, 1931, the son of Andrew T. and Dora (Cantara) Champion Sr.
In his early years Mr. Champion lived in many places as the son of a U.S. Navy sailor. The family finally settled in Franklin and he graduated from Franklin High school in 1950.
After years of employment as a machinist at the former Belknap-Sulloway Mills, he was employed as a supervisor at the Jackson (Mich.) State Prison for 15 years and resided in Eaton Rapids Mich. Following retirement in October 1987, he returned to the area and made his home in Lakeport.
He had been employed at Baron's Billiards.
A motorcycle enthusiast, he excelled as a racer in his younger years.
Mr. Champion was an accomplished pool player and remained active in national Senior Pool Tournaments. He was a devoted fan of the Boston Red Sox and enjoyed frequent trips to Foxwoods and Las Vegas with his wife, Mary. He also pursued stamp and coin collecting.
Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Mary (Rollins) Champion of Lakeport; three daughters, Mrs. Morris (Priscilla) Dodge of Franklin, Joyce Lewandowski of Manchester, Conn., and Lori Champion of Lakeport; three sons, James Champion of Lakeport, John Champion and his wife Michelle of Lakeport and Michael Champion and his wife Marie of Laconia; 13 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a brother, Richard Fedion of North Conway; several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by two daughters, Susan Champion in 1959 and Susan Beaupre in 1995.
Calling hours will be Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Simoneau & Lambert Funeral Home, 139 Church St., Laconia. A funeral will be held Monday at 10 a.m. in the funeral home. The Rev. Carolyn Stevenson, spiritual care coordinator of Community Health & Hospice will officiate. Burial will follow in Franklin Cemetery.
The Simoneau & Lambert Funeral Home and Cremation Service is assisting the family with arrangements.
John W. Landers
FRANKLIN - John W. Landers, 80, a former resident of Village At Winnipesaukee in The Weirs died Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at the Mountain Ridge-Genesis Elder Care in Franklin following short illness.
He had resided at the Golden Crest Community in Franklin prior to moving to Mountain Ridge.
Mr. Landers was born in Lowell, Mass., Feb. 16, 1924, son of John J. and Irene (Weed) Landers. He spent his youth in Keene and attended schools there.
He graduated from the Kimball-Union Academy in Meriden and later attended the University of New Hampshire.
He was a World War II Army veteran.
For many years he was self-employed in real estate and land development.
He summered for many years with his family in West Campton. He enjoyed hiking the many trails and climbing New Hampshire mountains.
Over the years he was active with the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club and other civic organizations.
Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law Daniel A. and Amy (Blair) Landers of Bow; a granddaughter, Makayla Landers Bow; a nephew and two nieces.
A graveside service will be held Wednesday, April 14, at 11 a.m. in the Woodland Cemetery (Northeast Division) in Keene. Burial will follow.
The William F. Smart Sr. Memorial Home of Tilton is assisting the family with arrangements.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to: Appalachian Mountain Club, New Hampshire Chapter, 5 Joy St., Boston, MA 02108.
