Kenneth Winston Smith

He was born in Brattleboro, VT, on May 17, 1925, the son of Robert A. and Minnie (Hill) Smith. He attended local schools, graduating from Keene High School with the Class of 1943. He was a resident of Surry for over 62 years.

He married Beulah Mae Clark on September 1, 1951, in a ceremony at the Surry Church.

He worked as a Machinist at American Optical in Keene for over 32 years. He was one of the first and last employees of the Keene plant; afterwards he worked at Kingsbury Corp. for about 5 years, retiring in 1986.

In 2001, he was honored as Citizen of the Year by the Town of Surry for over 100 years of community service as a Deputy Forest Fire Warden, member of the Volunteer Fire Department, the Zoning Board of Adjustment, the Budget Committee, History Committee, and Past President and Water Commissioner of the Surry Village Water Company. He was a former member of the Beth-El Bible Church; the Surry Grange; the Connecticut River Sportsman's Club; the NH Tractor Pullers Association; the Monadnock Squares; the Granite State Gas & Steam Engine Association, and the IMC (International Management Council). He was a proud member of the American Optical Quarter Century Club.

He enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, tending his fruit trees, keeping bees, and antique engines. He was an all-around tinkerer. After retirement, he and his wife wintered in Florida until 2013. They enjoyed traveling and visiting relatives across the country along the way.

He is survived by his three children: Bruce A. Smith of Surry, Susan A. Williams and her husband Donn of Troy and Brenda L. Martineau and her husband David of Marlborough; five grandchildren: Holly Mitchell and her husband Jonathon, Jonathan Williams and his wife Kristen, Daniel Williams, Chelsey Martineau and her significant other Caleb Washburn and Jacob Martineau and his significant other Mandi Oerman; a great granddaughter: Emma Mitchell; a sister: Barbara Messer and her husband Elwin, of Westmoreland; two sisters in law: Virginia Clark of Surry and Sandra Smith of Walpole; as well as several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Beulah M. Smith; a brother: Robert “Joe” Smith and a sister: Marjorie Rixford.

Services will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, July 17, 2015, at the Beth-El Bible Church, 13 Village Rd, Surry, NH 03431. An hour of visitation will be held prior to the service, from 1:00 until 2:00 at the Church. Burial will take place following the service at the family lot in the Surry Village Cemetery.

In Lieu of Flowers, memorial donations may be made, in Kenneth W. Smith’s name, to the Surry Volunteer Fire Department, 444 ROUTE 12A, Surry, NH 03431.

Fletcher Funeral Home and Cremation Services (www.fletcherfuneralhome.com), 33 Marlboro St, Keene, has been entrusted with the arrangements.