Gilford – Norman K. Greenwood, 94, of Wild Acres Road, died on Saturday January 9, 2016 at the New Hampshire Veteran’s Home, where he had lived for the last 6 months. He was a loving father with a great sense of humor and sharp mind to the end.
He was born on September 20, 1921 in Royton England and came to the United States as a young child with his Mother, Edith King. They settled in Exeter, NH where he met, and later married, his childhood sweetheart, Shirley F. Mayhew. They were married while both were in the service in December 1945.
In the early 1950’s he moved his family to Gilford, NH into what was later discovered to be the oldest house in the town (circa 1778) and it remains in his family today. He quickly became involved in the town serving on the volunteer fire department, giving ski lessons at the Gilford Outing Club and working on the ski patrol at Gunstock Ski Area. He developed one of the first cut-your-own Christmas tree farms in the area on the property at Wild Acres Road. Later in life he joined the Granite State Treasure Hunters Club and enjoyed spending time gold panning in NH streams and metal detecting on the local beaches. In 1990 he was voted Prospector of the Year. He had a substantial coin collection and it seems he intended to eliminate the use of pennies singlehandedly.
Norm proudly served his country during WWII in the United States Army 53rd Field Artillery Battalion in the South Pacific. His working career as a machinist was spent at Scott & Williams Mill and then NH Ball Bearings in Laconia and he was briefly on the Gilford police force.
Norman is survived by his wife Shirley Greenwood, daughters Cheryl McKenney and her husband Bill, Laurie Greenwood, Norma Taber and her husband Tracy, grandson Davis Taber and great grandson Asher Taber all of Gilford, NH. He was predeceased by his granddaughter Crystal McKenney.
There will be a memorial celebration in the spring at the convenience of his family.
For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations may be made to Live and Let Live Farm, 20 Paradise Lane, Chichester, NH 03234.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia NH is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.