William Lord

KEENE, NH - William P. Lord, 96, of 50 Kennedy Drive, formerly of Providence and Middletown, RI died Monday, October 7, at Cheshire Medical Center after a brief illness. The son of Henry and Bridget (Murphy) Lord, he was born August 5, 1906, in Fall River, Mass., the third of nine children. His father operated Lord Brothers Monuments in Fall River and Newport, R.I. Mr. Lord graduated from Durfee High School in Fall River and from Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he received a degree in Engineering Administration in 1930. While at MIT he served in the National Guard in gunnery. During World War II he worked in the national defense industry with Grinnell Corporation. He later worked in quality control for Dart Union Company in Providence, R.I., Minneapolis-Honeywell Co. in Fall River, and retired from the U.S. Navy Underwater Ordnance Station (NUOS) at Newport, R.I., in 1974. He received a Special Achievement Award in Value Engineering from NUOS. He also owned and operated Hildco Co. in Providence for several years. Mr. Lord married ''his girl'', Hilda Emma Bear of New Bedford, Mass., in 1931 and enjoyed 66 years of marriage before her death in 1997. He was a member of the Church of Christ in West Keene. He was skilled in many trades and was always engaged in helping others, whether to assist in filing a tax form or to replace an engine in a car. His scope of knowledge was broad and his wisdom deep, all tempered by a generous humor and deep love for people and for life. Mr. Lord is survived by his son, William, of Leesport, Penn.; five daughters, Mary Murray of Lynchburg, VA.; Hilda deMoya of Keene; Rosann Choate of Fernley, NV.; Madeline Jensen of Sequim, WA., and Jane Hider of Portland, ME., as well as 17 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces. All will miss a grand old gentleman. A memorial service will be held in Keene at the United Church of Christ on Oct. 19 at 11 A.M. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the West Keene Church of Christ, Blossom St., or to a charity of your choice. Mr. Lord's ashes will be buried with those of his wife at the family plot in Westport, Mass.