Harold W. Westover

The Rev. Harold W. Westover of Dover, NH died on Friday, Sept. 22, 2000. He was born April 3, 1923, the youngest child of Paul B. and Rachel (Tudor) Westover, in St. Louis, MO. He graduated from David H. Hickman High School, Columbia, MO, in 1941. He served in the US Air Force from 1943 to 1946, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant, and was honorably discharged. He attended the University of Missouri at Columbia, receiving the Bachelor of Science degree. He did graduate study at Washington University (St. Louis, MO), University of Hartford (CT), and the Berkeley Divinity School of Yale University, receiving the master of Sacred Theology degree in 1956. He was ordained deacon and priest in 1956. He served Episcopal congregations in Missouri, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Fr. Westover married Allene Montgomery, daughter of Ermont E. and Elizabeth M. (Allen) Montgomery of St. Joseph and Columbia, MO on January 13, 1945. They have three children: Lawrence P. Westover of Nashua, NH; Elizabeth (Westover) Werth of New Durham, NH; and John G. Westover of Walpole, NH. There are four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Along with his forty-four years as a minister, the Westovers built musical instruments of the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods, having completed 2,875 in thirty-six years. They also taught building seminars throughout Canada and the US, as well as writing articles and books on the subject. Fr. Westover was also a poet and prolific composer of sacred and secular music. A memorial service will be held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Dover, NH on Saturday, Sept. 30th, 3 p.m.