InDepthNH.org scans the websites of New Hampshire funeral homes each week and selects at random some of our friends, relatives and neighbors to feature in this column. The people listed here passed away during the previous week and have some public or charitable connection to their community. InDepthNH.org is now offering obituaries through the Legacy.com service. We view this as part of our public service mission. Click here or on the Obituaries tab at the top of our home page to learn more. And if you know of someone from New Hampshire who should be featured in this column, please send your suggestions to NancyWestNews@gmail.com.
Atkinson Fire Chief Brian S. Murray, 52, of Salem, died July 30, 2023. He dedicated more than 30 years of his life to the fire service in several communities. He was a firefighter/EMT for Durham from 1991 to 2003, firefighter/EMT for Manchester from 2003-2006, and a member of the Salem Fire Department for nearly 15 years, where he served as a firefighter/EMT (2006-2012), lieutenant/EMT (2012-2019), training officer (2014-2019), and deputy chief of operations (2019-2021). He was appointed fire chief in Atkinson in 2021. He served as the president of IAFF Local 2253 in Durham and IAFF Local 2892 in Salem (2008-2014). He owned Advantage Tree Service (2003-2013) and Murray’s Tavern (2010-2013). (Carrier Family Funeral Home)
Paul “Coach” J. Wesinger, 77, of Nashua, died July 29, 2023. A U.S. Army veteran, he joined the Nashua Police Department in 1970, serving for more than 30 years. After his retirement, he continued to work as a paraprofessional at Nashua High School South. He was active in coaching baseball, umpiring, and was state commissioner for Cal Ripken Baseball. He coached football for Elm Street Middle School and Nashua Senior High School South. He was involved in fundraising for the Nashua East Little League, the Nashua Elks Cub Scout Pack 720, and the Daniel Webster Council, BSA. (Zis-Sweeney and St Laurent Funeral Home)
Richard T. Plichta Sr., 91, of Manchester, died July 31,2023. A U.S. Navy veteran, he was qualified as a nuclear power engineer serving on Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica and the U.S. Navy Nuclear Power Program at Fort Belvoir, Va. He was federal programs coordinator for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of New Hampshire and Vermont and worked for the Manchester Health Department. He also worked as a court bailiff for the Hillsborough County Court System. He was a coach for Southwest Little League and Colt League baseball and served as on-call medic for West High School sports events. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, serving as Grand Knight and Navigator. He was also active as a board member of Spaulding Memorial Credit Union. (Legacy.com)
Mark Wilson Kimble, 78, of Dover, died July 29, 2023. He had his Ph.D. in English literature from the University of Virginia and was professor of English at the University of Maryland. He started in the benefits consulting business and became a trainer and evangelist of clear writing (called “ClearWrite”) before becoming a corporate communications executive. (Tasker Funeral Home)
Martha J. LaPerle, 68, of Epping, died July 29, 2023. She worked for many years at Exeter Pediatrics with Dr. Wendy Gladstone, then at the Cooperative Middle School of Stratham. She grew up on Riverslea Farm in Epping and worked as a commercial baker She obtained her private helicopter license and helped found the holiday turkey basket program now known as the EHS Martha LaPerle Outreach. (Stockbridge Funeral Home)
Richard W. Verge, 77, of South Hampton, died July 29, 2023. He was an Eagle Scout. He owned Richard W. Verge Carpenter and Builders for more than 30 years. He served on the South Hampton Zoning Board of Adjustment and was the town’s building inspector for 10 years. (Stockbridge Funeral Home)
John H. Tillotson, 82, of Pembroke, died July 29, 2023. A U.S. Navy veteran, he was a seller of antiques at Canoneer Antique shop in Suncook Village and was known in the community for his walks around the village. (Roan Family Funeral Home)
Wallace Seward Berg Sr., Lt. Col, USAF (Ret.), 98, of Greenland, died July 31, 2023. He was a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps and after World War II transitioned to the U.S. Air Force. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and served as an armament officer for 32 years. He retired from the Air Force in 1976 as an aerospace munitions staff officer. In retirement, he opened Minuteman Furniture in Portsmouth, started a wood-importing business and imported tea as well. He was granted three patents by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office while in his nineties. (Remick & Gendron Funeral Home – Crematory)
John E. Duffin Jr., 88, of Hampton, died July 30, 2023. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, he retired in 1956 as a first colonel. He serviced bakeries in New England as a sales representative for the Middlebee Red Pail Filling Company in South Boston and the Pillsbury Rothstein Flour and Sugar Division in Framingham, Mass. He operated Duffin’s Muffins in Clinton, Worcester, and Marlborough, Mass., for five years and retired from the baking industry after 25 years with Henry and Henry Corp., which made fruit fillings and bakery ingredients. He was a volunteer at several churches and was a long-time member of the Marlborough Knights of Columbus, served as president of the Massachusetts Retail Bakers Association and was president of the Portsmouth Country Club. (Remick & Gendron Funeral Home – Crematory)
Michael F. Ripberger, 77, of Milton, died July 28, 2023. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, he also served in the U.S. Army, retiring as a captain. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service, becoming postmaster in Bradford, retiring in 2000. He served as a master of the Masonic Lodge and joined the Silver Hill Vesta 49 in 1998, served as worthy patron from 1998-2001, also associate patron from 1999-2000. He served as grand representative to Arizona from 2005-2007 and received the John Sullivan Service Medal in bronze. He coached football in Warner and Little League in Portsmouth and umpired baseball in Concord and Hillsborough. He was a call fireman in Portsmouth and Newbury and an ambulance driver in Bradford. (Peaslee Funeral Home)
Gordon B. Flint Jr., 74, of Newport, died July 28, 2023. At age 21, he was one of Newport’s representatives to the General Court, the youngest member of the legislature that year. He was an attorney who practiced with Judge John C. Fairbanks for several years until he started his own practice in the eighties. He sang with the Newport Area Choir, played in the original Opera House Band, played with the East Bay Jazz Band and the Mad Bavarian Brass Band. He served on the Newport Opera House board of directors and performed in many shows. He served on the school board, was a judge in the District Court in Newport and had been a member of the Lions Club and the Rotary. (Newton-Bartlett Funeral Home)
Terry C. Paul, 80, of Laconia and Port Charlotte, Fla., died Aug. 2, 2023. He served for 35 years in the U.S. Army, six years active duty at Fort Devens with the 368th Engineering Combat Battalion, where he was involved in training, inspections, and deployments throughout New England. He retired in 2003. He served Goffstown Congregational Church as a deacon and coordinated religious activities and children’s summer camp programs. (French and Rising Funeral Home)
Linda Mae (Kolbeck) Denner, 74, of Nashua, died July 31, 2023. She dedicated 31 years of her life to teaching, most of which were spent as a fourth-grade teacher at Sunset Heights Elementary School.
She volunteered in the activities of Immaculate Conception parish, contributing to religious education, parish beautification and the eucharistic ministry. She also volunteered at the Corpus Christi Food Bank. (Dumont-Sullivan Funeral Home)
Vivian Norma Rowe, 79, of Nashua, died July 30, 2023. She was a supervisor at Matthew Thorton Health Plan and then director for Southern Region Dartmouth Hitchcock. She was a long-time member of the Temple Beth Abraham in Nashua and a member of the Nashua YMCA for more than 30 years. (Davis Funeral Home)
Sally Elizabeth Wool, 80, ofStratham, died July 27, 2023. She was an elementary school music teacher in several school districts and taught individual piano lessons in her Stratham home. She served as choir director and organist for Stratham Community Church for 40 years. Later in life, she obtained her masters in music education and was a licensed mental health counselor in private practice. (Brewitt Funeral Home)
WORDS OF WISDOM: “Not how long, but how well you have lived is the main thing.” — Lucius Annaeus Seneca, died 65 A.D.