Elmer Joseph Stinson Jr.

His parents, Annie L. (Miller) and Elmer Joseph Stinson, Sr., welcomed their son into the world on January 31, 1938, in Keene, NH. Growing up in Keene, Elmer attended local schools and was a 1958 graduate of Keene High School.

Elmer worked for 23 years with the American Optical Company in Keene, and later as a truck driver with the City of Keene for 10 years.

He resided in Colorado for 23 years where he built luxury coaches and transit buses. He returned to Keene in 2006.

In his earlier years, Elmer helped coach youth baseball teams. He enjoyed candlepin bowling, stock car racing, watching wrestling and roller derby, and square dancing at the Rhythm Ranch. He also enjoyed playing cribbage and computer games and you could find Elmer working daily on a jigsaw puzzle.

He will be greatly missed by many, especially his beloved partner Helen McKenzie of Keene; his children, William Stinson and his wife Gayle, of Troy, NH, Shirley Naylor and her husband Rick, of Swanzey, NH, Dennis Stinson and his wife Laura, of Wilmington, MA, Brenda Hope and her husband, Bill, of Keene, Becky Stinson of Keene, Timothy Stinson and his wife Mari of Norway, Joseph Stinson; twelve grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren; a brother, Robert Stinson of Florida; sisters, Marilyn Patnode and her husband Ronald of Florida, Thelma Beluscio and her husband Mark of Keene, Jane Hutchins of Keene, Sharon Mauch and her husband Keith of Lamar, CO; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, Donald Stinson; four brothers, John, William, Kenneth and Richard; and a sister, Anna MacKenzie.

A celebration of Mr. Stinson’s life will be held later to allow family members from afar to attend, at a date and time to be announced.

For those who wish, donations may be made in Mr. Stinson’s memory to Hospice of HCS, PO Box 564, Keene, NH 03431.