Reverend Dwight Meader

Reverend Dwight V. Meader, 95, of Rochester, NH passed away on November 21, 2019 at the Colonial Hill Center.



Dwight was born February 12, 1924 to Albert E. Meader and Florence G. (Scruton) Meader. He grew up on the family farm on Meaderboro Road and graduated from Spaulding High School in 1941. He spent two years at the Philadelphia Bible Institute before attending Gordon College, where he met his wife Lois. Dwight graduated in 1947 with an AB degree in Theology, and would later go on to earn his Divinity degree from Gordon College in 1952.



Dwight served as minister to churches in Standish, ME, Wales, MA (First Baptist Church of Wales, from 1949 to 1956), Hudson, NH (First Baptist Church of Hudson, from 1956 to 1969), and Alton, NH (Community Church of Alton, from 1969 to 1989). After he retired, Dwight served the Crown Point Baptist Church in Strafford, NH, where he remained an active member until his death. He was a Deacon, moderator, and adviser to church trustees. Dwight was also an accomplished trumpet player and often played during his church services.



The Reverend also had a long and distinguished Masonic career. He became a Master Mason in the Winnipesaukee Lodge in 1971. He was honored in 2012 for his forty-year service to the Grand Lodge, 36, as Grand Chaplain, DDGL, and DDGM, and proclaimed Honorary Past Grand Master. He attained the 33rd Degree in 1986. Dwight was very active with his wife Lois in the Order of the Eastern Star, and was also a member of the Humane Lodge #21 F&AM.



In addition, Dwight was involved with Camp Sentinel in Tuftonboro, NH for 22 years, both as a director and a counselor. He was also a road agent, school teacher, school bus driver, and active firefighter and chaplain in the Alton Volunteer Fire Department. He was an avid gardener well into his 90s, and loved baseball, football, and being with his family.



He is preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Lois Makechnie Meader, and son Stephen P. Meader, and by his brother Leon Meader and sisters Edith Kelley, Alice Moquin, and Leola Gray. Dwight is survived by sons Alan D. Meader and wife Monica of Conifer, CO, and Glen J. Meader and wife Jennifer of Littleton, CO, and by daughters Elaine M. Hebert and husband Philip of Keene, NH, Karen E. Meader and partner Douglas Andrus of Gilmanton, NH, and Jocelyn L. Poire and partner Edward Hawkins of Belmont, NH.



Dwight is survived by eleven grandchildren, including Arthur Smith Jr., Nathan, Alex, and Elijah Meader, Jacqueline and Jonathon Meader, Michael Poire, Kari Nguyen, Lacey Liebert, Amy Duguay, and Kyle Hebert, and by seven great-grandchildren, along with several nieces, nephews and cousins.