C. Peter James

1943 - 2025

C. Peter James

Grantham, NH - C. Peter James

January 15, 1943 - December 10, 2025

C. Peter James was born January 15th 1943 in Norwich CT. He grew up in Yarmouth, Maine, graduated from North Yarmouth Academy in 1961 and continued his education at the University of New Hampshire, graduating in 1965. It was here that he met the love of his life, Verna Kinne from Littleton, NH. They were happily married for 60 years. In January 1966 he was drafted into the Army and served the majority of his two-year tour at Ft. Greely in Delta Junction, Alaska. His wife Verna joined him there and their daughter, Elizabeth, was born there. Alaska was a place they loved and visited several times. For a short time before and after his army tour, he worked for Saga Food Service as a College Dining manager, but decided that was not for him and instead worked for a couple of years as a plumber and electrician at Belknap College, skills he picked up working off hours in the army. In 1970 he went to work for New England Telephone as a cable splicer, a job he had wanted since about age 10. He retired from the phone company after 30 years, the last 15 as an outside plant engineer. This was a career that he truly loved. He and Verna lived in Barnstead for 37 years in a beautiful log home they built together themselves. He was an active member of Barnstead Fire-Rescue for 34 years. After moving to Grantham in 2010, he became active in town affairs serving on many boards and committees. When he retired, he became more involved in woodworking and later in machine shop activities, building and repairing wood and metal working machines, things he really enjoyed doing. He was an active member of the Guild of New Hampshire Woodworkers and a long-term member of its Board of Directors. For many years he collected antique John Deere tractors and antique fire trucks and was a founding member of the New Hampshire Chapter of SPAAMFAA (The Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America), serving as president for some time. After he sold his fire trucks, he and Verna joined the Concord Coach Society which later became the Abbot-Downing Historical Society where they were very active, devoting much time and energy to help the Society grow and prosper.

He is survived by his wife Verna James of Grantham, their daughter Elizabeth Malcolmson and her two sons, Gillis and Duncan of Rockport, MA, brother Jonathan of Meredith, New Hampshire, and sister Marjorie and her husband Skip of Laconia, New Hampshire, nephews, Peter Grass of Hampstead, North Carolina, and Joel Grass of Rumney, New Hampshire and niece Alison Grass of Alexandria, New Hampshire, as well as many close friends near and far. He will be greatly missed for all the help he gave to others, his wide range of knowledge and his many, Many, MANY stories.

A Celebration of Life will be held on January 10, 2026 at the Grantham Town Hall at 300 Route 10 South, Grantham, NH. A calling hour will begin at 10, followed by the service at 11 during which anyone wanting to share a story will have an opportunity to speak. More stories can be shared afterwards during a luncheon.

In lieu of flowers (they make Verna sneeze!), consider a donation in his name to The Abbot-Downing Historical Society, PO Box 4077, Concord, NH 03302.