Richard E. Smith

Dick, as everybody knew him, started his life’s journey on June 26, 1930, in Keene. His parents, Elsie B. and Fay M. Smith brought him home to join his two older brothers.

He attended Keene schools where he easily made lifelong friends. As a Kappa Phi student at Keene High School, he was active in several of the science clubs. He went on to study chemistry at Keene Teachers College where one night he asked a young lady to dance at a student mixer. He and Nancy Aytoun were to continue for 68 years together.

After leaving college, Dick soon found a job as a carpenter’s helper with Ivar Ballou, learning skills that would serve him for the rest of his life. His second grownup job would be a long running endeavor to excel at whatever he attempted. He went to work for the fledgling electrical contractor, Fred Hamblet, where he continued his practical education and became a master electrician. He enjoyed the work and thrived at Hamblet’s until he retired in 1995. He was quite proud of his contributions to the success of Hamblet Electric. He was part of many of the major projects in the area. They tackled large jobs like the Ball Bearing plants in Keene and Lebanon and the Cheshire Medical Center in Keene. He also put his intimate knowledge of the hospital to further use by serving on its Facilities Committee for many years thereafter.

Dick’s was a past president of the Keene Mineral Club, a result of his hobby of collecting rocks and minerals. But his most passionate hobby was building things, many things. Dick built his family home in the village of Marlborough near the schools. When their three children grew up and left the nest, he built another new home for himself and Nancy in the woods of Marlborough. He cleared the land, planted fruit trees and had room to build lots of other things too.

Dick was a faithful member of the Federated Church of Marlborough. He was a past chairman of the board of directors and served on many different committees. One of his joys was being on the crew of retired guys that spent their time fixing everything around the Church, Parsonage and Community House.

Dick was also a Past Noble Grand of the International Order of Odd Fellows’, Paquoig Lodge in Marlborough. About the only time that he ever wore sandals was for Odd Fellow rituals.

Dick is survived by his wife, Nancy A. Smith of Keene, daughters: Jeri L. Canfield and husband Rick, of Shoreham, VT and Gilda L. Goodrich and husband Ed, of Marlborough, a son, James F. Smith and wife Dawn, of Stoddard, five grandchildren, several step grandchildren, three great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Dick was predeceased by his parents and brothers: Fay M. Smith and Robert Mace Smith.

Services will be held, April 13th at 2 PM at the Federated Church of Marlborough, 16 Pleasant Street, Marlborough, NH with a later burial in May at Meetinghouse Cemetery in Marlborough. People wishing to memorialize Dick are invited to donate to the Cheshire Medical Center’s, 2019 Annual Fund for the purchase of a new CT scanner.