Edwin S. Waters

Danville, NH - Edwin Stone Waters passed away unexpectedly and peacefully in his sleep on Friday, January 9, 2026.

He is survived by his wife, Janet E. Gilmore; his daughter, Fiona LaRosa-Waters; his sons, Joseph F. Gilmore, Christian J. Waters, and Stephen C. Gilmore; his daughter-in-law, Meghan L. Faherty; and his granddaughter, Violet F. Gilmore. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Linda M. Gilmore, Ellen M. Gilmore, and Ann M. Gilmore; his nephews, James F. Gilmore, and his wife Emily Martin and daughter Edith Gilmore, Jason S. Waters, and Conner R. Pelaez; his niece, Nina A. Velarde, and her husband, Marshal A. Velarde; and his former brother-in-law, Xavier E. Pelaez.

Stone's impact was so enormous that to name all that he loved and was loved by is impossible. He cherished first cousins, living and remembered, generation-spanning family by blood, marriage or shared history, as well as his military family (or "brothers in arms" Houghton and Virgil), friends, and neighbors.

Stone was born on November 4, 1946, to Edwin S. Waters and Marjorie Mahar Waters of Wakefield, Massachusetts. Stone grew up in Wakefield and, after high school, studied anthropology at Dartmouth College.

Stone voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was a veteran of the Gulf War Era, Peacetime, and Vietnam Era. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from May 20, 1965, to May 19, 1968, and in the U.S. Army from June 10, 1986, to March 31, 2003.

Stone was part of the first class at UMass in Boston's Park Square. He spent many years living in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with his eldest daughter and first-born son. He met his beloved wife, Janet, when the homeless shelter she was supervising moved from the Newton Armory to the Cambridge Armory due to the onset of Desert Storm. He subsequently moved to Amesbury, Massachusetts, on the Merrimack River, where he raised two more sons. He moved to Danville, New Hampshire, in 1999. After his military retirement, he supervised the security of people and equipment at the Gillette Factory in Andover, Massachusetts.

Stone was "a man of the earth." As a Marine scout, he was the "eyes and ears" of his platoon, trained in land navigation and reconnaissance, often using maps to provide crucial intelligence and to keep his brothers safe. This was enormously important to him. He was, in every way that matters, "Semper Fidelis." His Peacetime and Gulf War era service included Staff Sergeant for the 181-182 Infantry Companies in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and service as a Sergeant First Class (E-7) for a Military Police Battalion in Lexington, Massachusetts.

A voracious reader, Stone had a passion for learning about history and science, often helping his children with school and extracurricular science projects. He found great joy in cooking, and his recipes were loved by many. Known for his phenomenal wit, he delighted in old references and often succeeded in sparking a reaction from others with a twinkle in his eye. He chopped trees, grew tomatoes, and built a barn without a blueprint, just a hammer and no fuss. He enjoyed antiques, selling at flea markets, and found kindred spirits in Great Dane dogs.

He loved moving trees, dirt, rocks, and, yes, even people, with his charismatic nature and deep intelligence. He kept his "eyes and ears" on every aspect of his life, and he kept his family safe. He could always be counted on to remain calm and kind amid turmoil.

He lovingly endured 36 years of evening TV-watching with his wife, whose mind would wander to iPhone messages, always returning with "tell me what I missed." He would graciously provide an update, often followed by a story of his own (particularly during a really good movie). She always held the remote, because the pause button was critical. Every time, he told a new and different story. His stories were actually interesting because, as he put it, "he knew stuff." If he loved you, you knew it. He is already so missed.

His life and legacy will always be defined as one of strength, courage, and kindness. His humor, work ethic, and compassion live on through his children, grandchildren, and all those he impacted.

There will be a private Celebration of Life when the sun warms our shoulders. This obituary will be posted on the website of Brookside Chapel and Funeral Home in Plaistow, NH. The family would love to read your comments and stories. If you wish to donate in his memory, the mentoring and support of youth pursuing a new military career meant a lot to him.