Richard D. Whitehead

1943 - 2015

RINDGE - Richard D. Whitehead, 72, formerly of Rindge, died peacefully Friday, May 15, 2015 at the Merrimack County Nursing Home in Boscawen, N.H. following a long fought battle with emphysema.

He was born Jan. 19, 1943 in Oceanside, N.Y. son of the late Robert and Alice (Tonry) Whitehead. His formative years were spent in Baldwin, N.Y. He was a 1956 graduate of Saint Christopher Catholic Elementary School in Baldwin, N.Y. A 1960 graduate of Baldwin High School; and later had attended Business school.

He married Mary Patricia Gannon on Feb. 6, 1966 and was married for 33 years before her death on Jan. 21, 1999.

"Whitey" worked as a manufacturer's representative for many companies through out the Northeast as the owner-operator of New England Marketing.

He and his family had lived in Rindge since 1971.

He was an active communicant of St. Patrick parish in Jaffrey. He was a Eucharistic minister, a CCD teacher as well as a member of the Parish Council. He was responsible for initiating the bus transportation of local students to St. Bernard's High School in Fitchburg, Mass.

He was a Past Grand Knight of Our Lady of Monadnock Knights of Columbus Council # 8544 of Jaffrey. He was also a Sir Knight of Assembly #2129 of the Fourth Degree K of C.

Whitey was an Assistant Scout Master of Troop 33 BSA in Jaffrey. He had traveled with the troop to the 1985 National Jamboree at Fort AP Hill, Va. the International Scouting Jamboree held at the Bay of Fundy, Canada; as well as Camporee's held at the United States Military Academy at West Point and Ontario, Canada.

Following his retirement, from 2006 - 2009, he traveled to 46 of the lower 48 states in his RV, visiting many Civil War battlefields including Antietam, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Chickamauga, and Shiloh.

When his health forced him from traveling he has lived in the Deerfield / Concord area from 2009 until the time of his death.

He is survived by two daughters, Lara M. Whitehead-Annett (Shayne) of Ellinbank, Australia and Nancy A. Gross (Erik) of Deerfield, N.H., two sons, Richard G. Whitehead (Susan) of Charlton, Mass. and Matthew R. Whitehead (Gretchen) of Alexandria, Va. nine grandchildren, Aidan, Sarah, Matthew, Emma, Chloe, Sophia, Timothy, Georgia, Dain; a brother, Robert T. Whitehead of Little Rock, Ark.; several nieces and nephews and close friends.

In addition to his parents and his wife he was predeceased by his grandson Flynn M. Annett in 1997, and a sister Nancy Hebb in 2003.

Family and friends are warmly invited to call at the Cournoyer Funeral Home, 33 River Street in Jaffrey on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 from 6 to 8 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday at 10 a.m. in St. Patrick Church, Main Street, Jaffrey.

Rev. Wilfred H. Deschamps pastor, will officiate.

Burial will follow in St. Patrick Cemetery, Jaffrey.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Concord Regional VNA, Hospice, 30 Pillsbury Street, Concord NH 03301.

To view and online memorial, send a condolence to Whitey's family or for more information, please visit www.cournoyerfh.com.