Floyd Underwood

BRATTLEBORO -- Floyd J. Underwood, 86, of Morningside Commons died early Wednesday morning, Aug. 20, 2003, at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital with his wife by his side.

Mr. Underwood was born in South Londonderry on March 18, 1917, the son of Edwin Pendleton and Cherrie Beattie. He was later adopted and raised by Earl and Beulah Underwood. He was raised and educated in Guilford.

During the 1930s he worked for the Civilian Conservation Corp. in the Andover, Mass., area.

He was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Army's 193rd Military Police Company. He served in both the European and African-Middle-Eastern theaters of operation, and participated in the invasion of North Africa. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart Medal after being wounded in action near El Guettar, Tunisia, in March 1943. He also received the American Defense Service Medal with Foreign Service Clasp and Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged from active service at the rank of private first class on Feb. 12, 1944.

For many years he was employed at Cersosimo Lumber Co., in Vernon, where he retired in 1980. He had also been employed by the Crosby Milling Co., C.E. Bradley Corp., Holstein-Friesian Association, The American Optical Corp., Dunham Shoe Co. and Hinsdale Paper Mill.

He was a member of the VFW Carl M. Dessaint Post 1034, the American Legion, Brattleboro Post 5, and the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 478 in Keene.

Of his hobbies and interests, he enjoyed nature and the outdoors, cycling, snowshoeing and time shared with his wife and family. He loved to read, especially history and non-fiction topics.

On March 17, 1944, he was married in Brattleboro to Thelma Norman who survives.

Besides his wife of 59 years, he leaves one son, Franklin Underwood of West Chesterfield, N.H.; two daughters, Sharon Underwood of White River Junction and Sheila Blecharczyk of West Roxbury, Mass.; seven grandchildren and one great-grandson.

He was predeceased by three sisters and a brother.