Wayne Franklin Crowell

A kind heart and active volunteer in our community, Wayne F. Crowell, 85, a longtime resident of Marlborough, NH, passed peacefully at his home with hospice care and family at his side, on September 11, 2023, after several years of declining health.

His parents, Paul F. and Gladys (Keough) Crowell, welcomed their son into the world in Peterborough, NH on October 6, 1937. He grew up in Peterborough and was a 1955 graduate of Peterborough High School. Following graduation, Wayne enlisted in the Navy and served his country honorably for three years.

Wayne attended the University of New Hampshire, earning a BS in Business Administration in 1964. It was while attending UNH that Wayne met who would be the love of his life, Charlotte Macomber. He continued his education at Plymouth State College, earning an MBA.

Wayne enjoyed a long career in finance with jobs in Maine, Georgia and later, in Keene, NH, working as a financial executive with MPB Corporation/Timken for 30 years.

Being a very active volunteer within his community brought Wayne great joy. He said that being a volunteer meant more to him than his professional career. His acts of kindness and volunteer service included those of past president of the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce; trustee and Chairman of the Board of Cheshire Medical Center and Cheshire Health Foundation; RSVP Program through Monadnock Volunteer Services; Board of Directors for Keene Health Services; Board of Directors for Keene Downtown Housing Corporation; Trustee of the Trust Funds for the Town of Marlborough; just to name a few.

Wayne was awarded the Community Service Award through the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce for his dedication to his community through his many acts of kindness as a volunteer.

Wayne was also a volunteer firefighter for 40 years with the UNH Fire Department, Keene Fire Department and then the Marlborough Fire Department, retiring as Chief of the Marlborough Fire Department. He was a Deputy Forest Fire Warden for the State of NH; member of the Board of Directors and treasurer for the Southwestern NH Fire District Mutual Aid System; and a member of the Board of Directors for the Meadowood County Area Fire Department.

Wayne loved hunting, fishing, birding, snowshoeing, camping and traveling with his family. His love of the outdoors found him providing hunter safety courses for many youth in the community.

He will be greatly missed by many, especially his wife of 60 years, Charlotte Crowell of Marlborough; his two daughters, Jeana Newbern and her husband, Peter, of Newbury, NH, and Karen Edwards and her husband, Mike, of Surry, NH; his grandchildren, Emilie Kershaw and her husband, Zac, Ben Newbern, and Nick Hume; his great-grandchildren, Colt Hume and Paisley Hume; his brother, Richard Crowell and his wife, Anita, of Dublin, NH; and several nieces and nephews. A brother, Paul E. Crowell, and two sisters, Shirley Chamberlain and Sally LaBarre, predeceased him.

Family and friends are invited to call on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 from 5:00 to 7:00PM at the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene. A graveside service with military honors will be held on Thursday, September 28 at 1:00PM in the Meeting House Cemetery, Frost Hill Road, Marlborough.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of Home Healthcare Hospice and Community Services of Keene, and the Marlborough Fire Department personnel, for their many years of care and support.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Mr. Crowell’s memory to Home Healthcare Hospice and Community Services, PO Box 564, Keene, NH 03431; or to Marl-Harris Emergency Services, PO Box 399, Marlborough, NH 03455.