Richard R. Allard

He was born in Lyndonville, VT on February 29, 1932, the son of Maurice Allard and Rose (Nault) Allard. He grew up in a family with nine brothers and sisters in Lydonville and was a 1951 graduate of Lyndon Institute. While at Lyndon, Mr. Allard was captain of the football and basketball teams. He was also on the track team as well.

Following high school, he joined the ROTC at Norwich University in Northfield, VT. He was class president all four years, graduating in 1955.

Mr. Allard married his high school sweetheart, Donna Bass in Lyndonville in 1955.

He went into the US Army and served for four years. Part of his time was spent in Okinawa, Japan in the Army Corp of Engineers.

Mr. Allard worked at the Keene Coca Cola bottling plant beginning in the mid 1960’s. After working there several years, he became co-owner and operator of the plant for the next 12 years. He then took what he called a Sabbatical for several years.

Even after retirement, Mr. Allard kept busy and bought the Willoughby Lake Dairy Farm in Orleans, VT.

Mr. Allard then bought a wholesale beauty supply company in Manchester. Over several years, he took the firm from five sales consultants to 25 sales consultants. Through several mergers, the company came to be known as the NEKA Beauty Supply Co.

He was very active in the community serving as a volunteer for SCORE, a member of the Board of Trustees in Keene which made investment decisions for the city, and as a member of the School Board. He and his wife Donna were involved with the start up of the Ashuelot River Park. Mr. Allard was also a member of the local American Legion Gordon Bissell Post #4 and the Keene Lions Club.

During their active years, he and his wife Donna traveled to a number of places including Egypt, Prague and Hawaii. He also enjoyed the outdoors as a master gardener and taking time to make sure the local deer and turkeys had their cracked corn each morning. Golfing, downhill and cross country skiing and bowling were all part of his life.

Mr. Allard was a man from humble beginnings who understood the value of hard work and treating people with respect, regardless of station. His giving spirit was valued by friends and family and seen not only in his community service but also in providing those in need with scholarship money to further their education.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years Donna Allard of Keene; his sons Doug Allard of Manchester, John Allard of Costa Rica, Tom Allard, and wife Charlene, of Pensacola Fl; his daughter Cindy Hensel, and husband James, of Keene; grandchildren Tim, Cory, Lauren, Tiffany, Bobby, Andrea, Christy and husband Robert, Jeffrey and Jarred; sisters Ruth Ingalls, and husband Max, of Lyndonville, VT and Sandra Allard also of Lyndonville, VT; and many nieces and nephews.

Services for Mr. Allard will be held on Friday, January 18, 2013, at 11:00 AM at the Keene United Church of Christ, 23 Central Square, Keene, NH. Calling hours will be held the night before on Thursday, January 17, 2013, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Fletcher Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 33 Marlboro St., Keene, NH.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in Mr. Richard R. Allard’s name to the Visiting Nurse Association Program, c/o Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services, 312 Marlboro St., Keene, NH 03431.