Russell F Calkins

He was born in Palmer MA, the Son of Wilfred and Ethel (Jenks) Calkins. He grew up in Keene and graduated from Keene High School.

Mr. Calkins served in the Army Air Corp, 1944-1946. He was a member of the Air Force Association. Leaving with an honorable discharge he then entered a business trade school in NH and earned a degree in Accounting, becoming a Certified Public Accountant. He was a member of the National Society of Public Accountants. He began his career working with a few local companies and then established his own private accounting practice in Keene, NH, serving the community until his retirement year.

Mr. Calkins was a Master Mason of the Masonic Order of the Jerusalem Lodge #104. He was also a member of The American Legion Gordon Bissell Post #4. He obtained his private pilot license and was a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association. He was a member of The Lions Club in Keene as well as a Troop Leader for Boy Scout Troop # 18 in Keene.

Having strong religious beliefs, Mr. Calkins attended the Baptist Church on Maple Ave., in Keene, as a child and young man, St. James Church, in Keene, while raising his family and most recently, The Village Church in West Swanzey.

Mr. Calkins served as treasurer for the Cheshire Fair Association for many years. Mr. Calkins loved the outdoors and was very environmentally conscious. He held various “leader” positions for public outdoor activities. He was a member of The Harris Center, Friends of Pisgah, The Cheshire County Conservation District, The Monadnock Sierra Club, The Wanastiquet-Monadnock Greenway Corridor Advisory Group, The National Wildlife Association, and The Cheshire County Fish and Game Club. His family apologizes for realizing they may not have known and listed all of the environmental organizations in which he dedicated his heart and his time to. His trips took him all over the US including Alaska and Canada, including a trip participating in placing tracking collars of wolves in the mid-west.

Some of his other hobbies included, having his Ham Radio Operator License. He enjoyed communicating with others near and far. He enjoyed metal detecting, gold panning, hiking, canoeing, and snowshoeing. He held a level of degree in Reiki. He enjoyed reading, especially history books, westerns and Robert Frost Poems. He enjoyed oil painting, rock collecting, coin collecting, and aviation photos. He was a great admirer of the aviation works of Jim Laurier, a local artist in Keene.

Mr. Calkins is survived by his Son, Richard D. Calkins of Keene; his Daughter, Kathryn J. Greeley of Surry; his grandchildren: Kimberly Calkins of Keene, Kristin Palumberi of TX, Matthew Greeley of Surry and Keith Greeley of Merrimack, his brother: Roger W. Calkins of CO, and several nieces and nephews. His sister Shirley L. (Calkins) Desruisseau died earlier.

Services for Mr. Calkins were privately held earlier this week for his family. Fletcher Funeral Home on 33 Marlboro St., Keene, NH was in charge of the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions can be made to the “Russell F. Calkins Memorial Fund” c/o The Savings Bank of Walpole, 400 West Street, Keene, NH 03431