Obituaries from Dover Community News, Friday, May 4,2001 Copyright retained by the newspaper. Included in the USGenWeb Archives with permission. http://seacoastonline.com Eleanor A. Pinkham Active in churchs Eleanor A. Pinkham, 83, of 17 Mountain View Lane died April 25, 2001 at Concord Hospital. Born in Bernardston, MA on March 12, 1918 the daughter of Phillip S. and Agnes Irene (Redman) Batchelder. She was a graduate of Crosby High School in Belfast ME in 1937 and graduated from Westbrook College in 1939. She moved to Northwood in 1942 from Portland, ME. Eleanor was employed as a receptionist at the Pittsfield Medical Center from 1965-1972 and was receptionist for the Globe Fire Suits in Pittsfield for 12 years retiring in 1985. Following the death of her husband, Ernest L. Pinkham in 1985, she owned and operated the former Pinkham Funeral Home in Northwood. She was a member of the Adornment Committee of the Church and a former Deaconess of the Church and was a former member of the Crescent Chapter #45 O.E.S. `In addition to Ernest L. Pinkham, she was also the widow of Clinton Farrow who died in 1959. She was also predeceased by a sister Barbara Call who died in 1988. She is survived by a stepdaughter, Jean Farrow Gardner of San Antonio, TX; two sisters, Ruth Peters of Westbrook, ME and Nancy Smith of Hartland, VT; five step-grandchildren - Kerry, Debby, Clint, Kathy and Tom; three step-great-grandchildren - Kerry, Marianne and Patrick and neices and nephews. Funeral services were May 1 at the First Baptist Church in Northwood with The Reverend Pat Ketzler officiating. Buriel is in Pine Grove Cemetery, Northwood. Arrangements were with Tasker Funeral Home, 621 Central Avenue, Dover. Those who wish are invited to make memorials in her name to either The First Baptist Church Adornment Committee, Route 4, Northwood, NH 03261 or to the chrity of one's choice. Perry Blankenship Paster Emeritus, St. Thomas The Reverend Perry Blankenship, 90, Pastor Emeritus of St. Thomas Episcopal Church died Wednesday, April 18, 2001 at Merrimack County Nursing Home, Boscawen after a period of failing health. Born July 28, 1910 in Martinville, Indiana he was the son of Henry and Dolly (Shirman) Blankenship. He was a graduate of Indiana University and a graduate of Andover-Newton Theological Center and Bexley Theological School. He was an active member of the New Hampshire Episcopal Diocese. During his 41-year ministry he had parishes in Virginia, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Ohio. He was Pastor of St. Thomas Episcopal Church for 20 years retiring in 1977. He was a former member of the Dover-Durham Rotary Club; past president 1961-1962 and secretary from the late 1960s to early 1980s. He was a member of the Moses Paul Masonic Lodge #96, F.&A.M. and former Chairman of the Dover Red Cross. After retirement Perry and Edith spent many summers at their Camp on Milton Three Ponds, winters at St. Petersburg Beach, FL and Spring and Fall in Rochester. Perry loved to spend time with family and friends. Survivors include his wife of sixty-five years, Edith Mary (Blackledge) Blankenship of Webster; a son, William Henry Blankenship of Leominster, MA; a daughter, Jeanne Ellen Blinkenship of Farmington; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a daughter, Marjorie Jo Woodworth of Kittery, Me.. Memorial services were April 28, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church with The Reverend Robert S. Ervin officiating. Private burial will take place in Pine Hill Cemetery. Arrangements were with the Wiggen-Purdy-McCooey-Dion Funeral Home, 655 Central Avenue, Dover. Those who wish may make donations in his memory to the Memorial Garden Fund, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Corner Locust and Hale Street, Dover, NH, 03820 or to the American Diabetes Association, 1001 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03101. Ovid G. Taylor Former deputy fire chief, veteran Ovid G. Taylor, 78, of 18 Richardson Drive died Thursday April 26, 2001 at the Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. Born in Dover on April 19, 1923 the son of Bernard S. and Emma (Gagne) Taylor he has lived here all of his life, and was a graduate of the Dover schools. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II and a member of the Rollinsford Post #47, American Legion. He was also a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose #443 and the Dover lodge of Elks #184. Deputy Chief Taylor retired from the Dover Fire Department after 34 years of fire fighting and had served as the first Training Officer for the Department. He was employed by the former Lord & Keenan Oil Co. for 13 years, seven years with the Duffy Oil Co. and later for the Taylor Oil Co. He was also a self-employed heating and oil burner technician. Ovid was a member of St. Joseph Church and a member of Our Lady of the Rosary Council #807 Knights of Columbus and the Rev. Thomas E. Reilly Assembly 4th Degree Knights of Columbus. He is survived by his wife of 58 years Pauline L. (DiCicco) Taylor, two sons Roger "Joe" Taylor and his wife Mary of Dover, Paul Taylor and his wife Lisa of Rochester, a daughter Mary Ellen Nehls and her husband Bill of Huntington Beach CA, eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, a brother Bernard Taylor of Dover, a foster sister Gladys Gagne of Dover and nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents he was predeceased by two brothers Roger Taylor and Henry Taylor, and a sister Rachel Guibord. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated May 1 at St. Joseph Church with The Reverend Michael Taylor, (Ovid's nephew) as celebrant. Burial followed in St. Mary New Cemetery. Arrangements were with Tasker Funeral Home, 621 Central Avenue. Anna M. Laughlin Shipyard retiree, St. Joe communicant Anna M. Laughlin, 87, of 60 Middle Road died peacefully April 26, 2001 at Langdon Place surrounded by family and friends. Born in Lawrence, MA on May 18, 1913, the daughter of John and Ursula J. (Butrimas) Jerackas and moved here 53 years ago when she married. She was a former employee of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Supply Department and was a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. Anna was a member of St. Joseph Church. The widow of James "Larry" Laughlin who died January 22, 1999, she is survived by two sisters, Aldona Rosselle of Methuen, MA, Eleanor Jerackas of Lawrence, MA, her sisters-in-law Audrey Bergeron of Dover, Marion Loughlin (her constant companion and care-giver), Kathleen "Kay" Tuttle and her husband Roland of Dover, her brother-in-law John Loughlin and his wife Jean of Milton, several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and many friends. Visiting hours were April 27 and a Mass of Christian Burial was April 28 at St. Joseph Church. Interment is in the family lot at St. Mary New Cemetery. Anyone wishing to make a memorial may do so in her name to Seacoast Hospice Care, 662 Central Avenue, Dover NH 03820 or to the charity of one's choice. George Hodgdon Mason, Veteran George Raymond Hodgdon, 92, formerly of 60 Fifth Street, died Sunday, April 22 at Riverside Rest Home after a period of failing health. Ray was born May 9, 1908 in Dover, son of George and Florence (Ford) Hodgdon. A veteran, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was owner and operator of Ray Hodgdon Cleaning Service retiring in 1990. He was a member of Strafford Masonic Lodge #29, F & A. M., Bektash Temple Shrine of N.H., active in DeMolay, a member of the Belknap Council Chapter #8, Orphan Council #1, Royal Master and member of St. Paul Commandry. Survivors include three nephews; Charles and William Croft of Dover and Harry Croft of Washington, D.C.; three nieces, Marlene Cayes of Virginia, Marie Fletcher of Rockland, MA and JoAnne DuPont of Taulamie, CA. Graveside services were April 27 in Pine Hill Cemetery with Rabbi Lev Ba'esh officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of the Wiggen-Purdy-McCooey-Dion Funeral Home, 655 Central Avenue. Anyone wishing may make a memorial donation in his name to Temple Israel, 47 1/2 Fourth Street, Dover, NH 03820 or to the Strafford Masonic Lodge #29, Sixth Street, Dover, NH 03820.