Richard Clifton Aldrich

MANCHESTER - Richard Clifton Aldrich, age 94, died Sunday, January 7, 2018, at Hanover Hill Nursing Center, surrounded by his family and their deep love for him.

Richard was born during a blizzard April 10, 1923, the middle child of eight, in Sugar Hill, NH, to Harold Clifton and Edith (Ginn) Aldrich. He grew up on a dairy farm, where he learned to ski from a young age and was on the ski team of Dow Academy in Franconia, where he competed in cross-country and ski jumping and graduated in 1941. From the age of 11, he caddied at the Sunset Hill House and later became golf shop manager at the hotel.

Mr. Aldrich enlisted and entered the service through the National Ski Association on May 15, 1942, and joined the 87th Mountain Infantry at Ft. Lewis, WA, Co. E, 2nd Btn, and in Dec. 1942 moved to Camp Hale, CO. In August 1943, the 87th took part in Operation Kiska. He returned to Camp Hale in Oct. 1943 and was assigned to M.T.G. He entered O.C.S. at Ft. Benning in 1944 and was assigned to the 10th Mtn. Div. Officers Pool until separation in 1946. In Oct. 1950, he was called back to active duty and was assigned to the 1st. Btn. 8th Cav., 1st Cav. Div. in Korea. His awards include the Bronze Star and two Battle Stars.

In 1946, Richard met Martha Jane Cookman, and they fell in love on a date dancing at Canopie Lake. They married in 1947 and had three daughters. Richard worked for Service Fire Insurance Company owned by Commercial Investment Trust (CIT). He was an adjuster for two years and then became supervisor of the New England region. He retired after 38 years in 1990. Richard and Martha joined the First Congregational Church of Manchester in 1952, where he was an usher for 20 years and a deacon for 4 years. He volunteered twice a week at the Elliot Hospital for 27 years, bowled for his church league until just recently, and became a member of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in 2013.

Richard was a very loving and generous father, grandfather, and friend and will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him. He is pre-deceased by his wife Martha. He is survived by his daughters, Linda Aldrich and husband David Miller of Maine; Wanda Aldrich and Michael Hoy of Nebraska; Lee-Anne and David Weston of Arizona; three grandchildren, Maggie Weston and husband Jorge Rivera, Jenna Weston, and Clifton Weston, and one great-grandson, Declan Weston-Rivera, all of Arizona; and nieces and nephews.

SERVICES: Sugar Hill Service: A veteran's interment will take place in Sugar Hill, NH, at Sunnyside Cemetery at noon on June 16, 2018. Friends and Family are welcome; refreshments will be served by the Sugar Hill Willing Workers afterwards in the Carolina Crapo Building.

Military Color Guard, Military Bugler, Rev. Lyn O. Winter. Please visit www.goodwinfh.com to sign the online guestbook.