George Ellsworth Putnam

He was born in Walpole, NH, July 19, 1929, the son of Elmer and Helen (Pierce) Putnam.

George attended schools in Walpole, transferring to Keene High School in his senior year so as to attend the new job internship program offered through the school. He interned with Perkins Bassett & Wright, of Keene (now Choice Industrial Solutions) and progressed to President and owner of the company. George earned great respect and the lasting friendship of his customers because of his unwavering ethics and innovate problem solving. He retired after 50 years of service. His son Mark now owns the company.

He served in the US Air Force and was stationed in Rapid City, SD where he met and married Marianne Egemo, May 9, 1954. In 1958 he purchased an abandoned 200 year old cape in Westmoreland NH and through the years he renovated and restored the entire home. His children have many fond memories and stories of the various stages of restoration phases. Marianne died August 3, 1985.

George married Eleanor (Boyd) Hood of Westmoreland on September 13, 1997 and loved and cared for Eleanor until the time of his death.

Through the years, George was involved with the Lion’s Club, Westmoreland Planning Board, a Scout Master, a Deacon and member of Westmoreland United Church, and a member of the Jerusalem Lodge #104 Masonic Order of Keene. He participated as a cast member in numerous Westmoreland Old Home Day plays. He enjoyed spending time with his family, tending his gardens, mowing his fields and caring for his land. He researched and compiled the family genealogy.

George is survived by his wife, Eleanor Putnam, of Westmoreland, his three children; daughter, Linda Remy and her husband, Peter, and their sons, Michael and Alex, of Westmoreland, son, Mark Putnam and his wife, Carole, of Walpole, and their sons Brian, and Eric and his wife, Shannon, son, William Putnam and his wife, Lori, and their daughters, Maddie and Taylor, of Keene NH. He is also survived by a brother, Marshall Putnam and his wife, Virginia, of Walpole, brother, Harold Putnam of Walpole, sister-in-law, Gertrude Putnam of Alstead, sister-in-law, Lavonna Wood of Clear Lake, CA, and also cousins, nieces and nephews, and also Eleanor’s four daughters and their families; Linda and Ken Glidden of Brewster, MA, Lois and Dennis French of Keene, and April and Ted Ferguson and Audrey Hood, all of Westmoreland. He is preceded in death by his brother, Robert Putnam of Alstead, and his sister, Maydra Freis, of Washington.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at 2:00 PM in the Westmoreland United Church, South Village Road, Westmoreland. Family and friends are welcome. Burial in the North Cemetery, Westmoreland, will be private.

There are no public calling hours.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made in Mr. Putnam’s memory to the Westmoreland United Church, PO Box 214, Westmoreland, NH 03467, or to the Westmoreland Fire Department, c/o Chief Harry Nelson, Glebe Road, Westmoreland, NH 03467, or to a charity of one’s choice.

The Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene, NH, is assisting the family with the arrangements.