Richard E. LaFrance

1930 - 2022

Richard E. LaFrance

Bow, NH — Richard E. LaFrance, 92 of Bow, NH, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2022 with Jacqueline (Adams) his wife of 64 years by his side, an early spring breeze and the warm sunshine on his face.

Born January 26, 1930 in Lowell, MA to Fabian and Mary (Madden) LaFrance, he hung out with friends in Lincoln Square, hunted, fished and was proud to say he swam for miles in the Merrimack River before it was clean. He graduated Keith Academy and joined the Army Reserves in 1948. He served as a Sargeant First Class in the Korean War as an Artillery Specialist and sharp shooter. He fought with his battalion to keep the North Koreans at bay and traded all of his cigarette rations for chocolate, a passion he would enjoy for a lifetime.

Richard graduated Lowell Technological Institute (University of Massachusetts) with a Bachelor of Science and worked his entire career as a leather chemist. He and Jackie settled in New Hampshire to raise their family of five. They enjoyed many winters of sledding and skating at the Bow Fire Station and White Park and rabbit hunting on Mount Kearsage. Summers were spent camping, fishing and canoeing. They packed up the kids in their Buick Station Wagon to make memories at Hampton Beach, eating lunches from a styrofoam cooler with a squeaky lid, exploring NH rivers with sneakers on slippery rocks, shooting down the natural slide at Kancamagus River where he stood to catch everyone just before tumbling over the falls, and braving the rapids of the Saco River on inner tubes and inflatable rafts before that was a thing. Wherever he staked the giant green canvas tent on family trips, Dad always made a hot breakfast on the Coleman camp stove and found a church for Sunday Mass.

Richard loved and lived for his wife, children and grandchildren, and recently held his first great-grandchild. He was known for his character, his strength, his humor, his kindness and his willingness to help anyone with anything. He walked the neighborhood every day making frequent stops to check on, and lightheartedly harass, his friends.

His wife and children will miss him dearly. He leaves behind his children Stephen (Kathy) LaFrance of Stratford, NH; Lisa (Jeffrey) Woodruff of Chester, NH; Marybeth Salgueiro of Round Rock, TX; Laurie (Mark) Marshall of Chichester, NH; James (Cynthia) LaFrance of Goffstown, NH; his grandchildren Cooper, Layne, Lauren, Marisa and Devin and his great grandchild, Mila. He is predeceased by a son, Ricky.

A prayer service and celebration of his life is planned for May 7, 2022 at 11 am at Bennett Funeral Home, 209 N Main St, Concord NH 03301. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you offer assistance to someone in need, and when the opportunity presents itself, perform an act of kindness in his honor. Remember his smile, as we always will.