William Pitt Whippie

He was born in Keene, NH, August 31, 1921, to Walter H. and Margaret E. (Gabree) Whippie, and was a lifelong resident of the Keene area.

Mr. Whippie was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Hawaii.

Through his sister, he met and fell in love with Marion E. Adams of Orange, MA, and they were married on June 16, 1946. Shorty after his return from the service they bought their fist and only home in Swanzey, where they raised their four children.

Bill worked for many years as supervisor at The Keene Wood Heel Company. He also worked for other machine shops and factories before retiring from American Optical in 1984.

Probably best known as the “Lawn Mower Man”, where you could find him tinkering in his garage or workshop on lawn mowers, garden tractors, snow blowers, even automobiles. He was always there with advice and spare parts for anyone who stopped by.

Bill also loved spending time with his family, going on vacations, camping, apple picking in the fall and especially family dinners. He would use an excuse for “Pizza Night”. He and Marion loved to play cards with friends and family, for years they had Saturday night poker games.

His grandchildren were a pleasure to him, he enjoyed watching them grow up, and be a part of their lives – he has a very close family which he treasured.

He is survived by four children, Richard Whippie and his wife, Linda, of Monson, MA, Ronald Whippie, Sr. and his wife, Kathleen, of Swanzey, Pamela Campbell-Thulke and her husband, William, of Marlow, NH, Kenneth Whippie of Swanzey; six grandchildren, Candace Ferracci and her husband, Daniel of CT, Bryan Whippie of CT, Ronald Whippie, Jr. of Swanzey, Bonnie Goodwin and her husband, Matthew, of Keene, Nicholas Campbell of Swanzey, Joseph Campbell of Swanzey; seven great-grandchildren, Lucas and Broden Ferracci, Olivia Whippie, Rory Ann and Aubrey Campbell, Asher and Arabella Taylor; a sister, Hansine D’Ambrosio and her husband, Pat, of Bridgeport, CT; adopted sister, Viola (Pinkey) Gregory of Ohio, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. His wife of 63 years, Marion, died May 5, 2008. He was predeceased by a son, William, who died at birth, and siblings, James Whippie, Louise (Topsey) Gilbo, Joseph Whippie, Victor Whippie and John Whippie.

A graveside service will be held Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at 10:00AM in the Mountain View Cemetery, Route 32, Swanzey. Rev. Nancy Wood, will officiate. Family and friends are invited to call on Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mr. Whippie’s memory to Patient Care Needs of Hospice, Home Healthcare Hospice and Community Services, PO Box 564, Keene, NH 03431-0564.