William L. O'Brien Sr.

William Leon “Bill” O’Brien, Sr. 66, a lifelong resident of Swanzey, NH, died Friday, December 27, 2013 at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, following a long period of failing health.

He was born in Keene, NH, November 14, 1947, the son of Leon D. and Faith (Applin) O’Brien. He was a 1965 graduate of Monadnock Regional High School in Swanzey.

Mr. O’Brien was an Army veteran serving during the Vietnam War and was stationed in Okinawa. He was honorably discharged with the rank of SP5 E5.

On September 3, 1966, he married his childhood sweetheart, Carolyn Little.

He worked for 47 years in customer service with Markem Corporation in Keene, retiring in 2012. He was a member of the Gordon Bissell American Legion Keene Post #4 and a member of the Keene Elks Lodge 927.

His lifelong passion was sports, hunting, cooking and fishing. He excelled in sports, and was a 3-sport athlete. His competitive spirit made him a force to be reckoned with. He was recently honored for his outstanding football career at Monadnock Regional High School with his induction into the MRHS Hall of Fame, and the retiring of his #24 jersey. He was an avid MRHS football fan, not missing many of their games over the last 48 years. After his military obligations, he fine-tuned his ball skills, playing for several years with the Keene fast pitch softball team, The Monadnock Blocks, where he was known for his fast feet and powerful swing. His favorite passion however was his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Carolyn A. (Little) O’Brien of Swanzey; three children, William Leon O’Brien, Jr. and his wife, Kimberly, of Swanzey, Angela M. Britton and her husband, Andy, of Swanzey, Matthew J. O’Brien and his fiancé, Morgan Roberts, of Swanzey; nine grandchildren, Kristin Britton, Erin (O’Brien) Patnode and her husband, Keith, Andrea (Britton) Noom and her husband, Mike, Andrew Britton, Colby Brosnahan, Keegan O’Brien, Brooke O’Brien, William Leon O’Brien, III, Remmington O’Brien; and 2 great-grandchildren, Owen Range and soon to be, Cameron Noom. He is also survived by two brothers, John O’Brien and his wife, Deborah of Orford, NH and Jim O’Brien of Swanzey; sister, Betty Lou Miller of Swanzey; and many nieces, nephews and extended family.

A celebration of his life and funeral service will be held Thursday, January 2, 2014 at 11:00AM in the Christian Life Fellowship Church, 211 Whitcomb Road, Swanzey, NH. Burial with military honors will be in the spring in the Mountain View Cemetery, Swanzey. Family and friends are invited to call on Wednesday, January 1st from 2:00 to 4:00PM at the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mr. O’ Brien’s memory to the Monadnock Regional High School Football Program, c/o Linwood Patnode, Monadnock Regional High School, 580 Old Homestead Highway, Swanzey, NH 03446.