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 weeks 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.

Michael R. Bernard, 55, of Bedford, died Feb. 22, 2025. He began his career in law enforcement as an Auburn police officer in 1996, then joined the Bedford Police Department and rose through the ranks over a two-decade career, retiring in 2020 as a lieutenant. He continued to serve as a part-time special officer. He was a driving instructor for AAA Driving School in Merrimack and was an account executive for CSI Technology Group. He served as vice chairman of Bedford’s facilities committee for the fire and police safety complex. He was a professional wrestler and appeared as “Freight Train Fulton,” earning his place in the International Wrestling Federation Hall of Fame in 2019. He also coached and umpired Bedford Little League baseball and coached his sons’ hockey teams. (Legacy.com)

John W. “Bill” Cross Jr., 78, of Hampton, died Feb. 24, 2025. He was a Hampton police officer for 33 years and was also a licensed master electrician. He was also a N.H. State Police Trooper for 17 years. He was employed at Fidelity Investments as a project manager for 30 years. He retired from Hearst Television as a broadcast engineer and was licensed as a private pilot. (Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home)

Lauren “Duff” Herbert Cummings Jr., 74, of West Lebanon, died Feb. 21, 2025. He was a bass player for several bands, including Frydaddy, Spare Parts, and Reckless Breakfast. He was a stage manager at the  Lebanon Opera House, working there since 1969. He co-founded Mink Brook Outfitters and was a founding member of Friends of River Park, building trails along the river. He worked  45-years for Hanover Police, Hanover Fire/EMT, and Dartmouth Safety and Security as a sergeant investigator. (Knight Funeral Home, White River Junction, Vt.)

Col. James F. Dias, 81, of Bedford, U.S. Army retired, died Feb. 23, 2025. He served on active duty with the U.S. Army and in the U.S. Army Reserve until his retiring in 1997. He also worked with the Department of Defense as a training officer. His military career culminated as chief of staff of the 94th Reserve Support Command. He was awarded the Purple Heart. Upon retirement, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and the Rhode Island Star. He served two terms as a Bedford town councilor and was chairman of the Bedford School Board. He also helped preserve the town’s historic old town hall. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1962, member of VFW Post 4487, the Reserve Officers Association and the Vasco Da Gama Society. (Memorial Funeral Home, Newport, R.I.)

Ronald Robert Fischer, 65, of Merrimack, died Feb. 19, 2025. He was a pilot with American Airlines for 34 years and retired last February as a Boeing 777 captain. He piloted many types of aircraft and was an avid skydiver with more than 1,000 jumps. (Smith & Heald Funeral Home)

Natalie Vittum Hall, 87, of Ossipee, died Feb. 19, 2025. She served on the Ossipee Planning Board for many years, was deputy town treasurer, town treasurer, ballot clerk, and auditor for the Center Ossipee Fire Department for at least 30 years. She was a member of the board to start Constitution Park and a founding member of The Ossipee Old Home Week Committee. She was the first female selectman in Ossipee. (Lord Funeral Home)

Jack Z. Higgins Sr., 87, of Merrimack, died Feb 22, 2025. A U.S. Army veteran, he was a carpenter for Dana Patterson Inc. for more than 20 years, and served as a lieutenant for the Merrimack Fire Department. (Rivet Funeral Home & Crematorium)

Roland P. Lamy Sr., 83, of Loudon, died Feb. 23, 2025. He was a member of the Army National Guard and for 30 years was a N.H. State Trooper, most of his tenure with the Major Crimes Unit. He retired in 1994 and then spent several years as the director of safety at Franklin Pierce University. He worked at Banks Chevrolet in Concord as a salesman. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame for Catholic High Schools in Manchester in 2001 for his achievements on the basketball court. (Legacy.com)

Richard M. Langworth, 83, of Moultonborough, died Feb. 20, 2025. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard as an officer and was an author and historian known for his expertise in automotive history and Sir Winston S. Churchill. He was editor of Automobile Quarterly and authored or co-authored more than 60 books on automotive history. He founded a study unit on Churchill, which evolved into the International Churchill Society. He was editor of its quarterly journal, Finest Hour, for more than three decades, producing 150 issues. His also produced 12 books on Churchill and was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998. In 2014, he joined Hillsdale College as a Senior Fellow for the Churchill Project. (Legacy.com)

Harold V. “Hal” Lynde Jr., 88, of Pelham, died Feb. 23, 2025. A U.S. Army veteran, he was a Pelham selectman for more than 30 years and also served as a state representative. He was a project manager for Raytheon in Bedford, Mass., focusing on the Sparrow Missile project. He was a member of several town committees including the Pelham Budget Committee, Town Hall Building and Parks and Recreation committees.  He helped start the Pelham Community Coalition to raise awareness of substance abuse and was driving force in the construction of the Village Green municipal complex. He coached both boys and girls soccer  (Pelham Funeral Home)

WORDS OF WISDOM: “Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal – a commitment to excellence – that will enable you to attain the success you seek.” – Mario Andretti, race car driver, born on this date, Feb. 28, 1940