Rodney P. Blunt of Derry, New Hampshire, passed away peacefully on February 4, 2021. Rodney was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and later relocated to Weymouth, Massachusetts, where he spent most of his childhood. As a young man, Rodney loved riding his motorcycles. His favorites were his Indian Chief and BMW. Rodney eventually joined the Air Force, where he was stationed in California and Germany. While stationed in Germany, he met the love of his life, Simone, while at a train station from Germany to France. After living in France for several years, they moved to Allston, Massachusetts in 1962 with their three children. In 1964, the family purchased a farm house in East Derry, New Hampshire, where Rodney operated a sheep, chicken, and vegetable farm. Rodney loved referring to the sheep as the "best lawnmowers." The family farm sold eggs, vegetables, and wool. Rodney worked at Sweetheart Cup for a few years before going back to school to become an electrical technician. This new field offered him an opportunity to work at Raytheon where he contributed to the Patriot Missile radar system. Rodney worked at Raytheon for 30 years before taking an early retirement. Rodney loved tinkering with electronics. He built the family's first console color television set from scratch with a Heath Kit. It took him a year to build it between running the family farm and working full time. Rodney also enjoyed music. His favorites were classical, country, and as of late, folk music. He very much enjoyed playing the harmonica. Among the many things that Rodney enjoyed, he also loved gardening, working on his classic Case and Ford tractors, his classic 1974 Volkswagen Love Bug, which he purchased brand new that will continue to remain in the family. He loved photography and enjoyed sharing that love with his grandson, Dylan, who is a professional photographer. He adored his three grandchildren and spent many years babysitting them with Simone. One of his favorite trips he took was with his granddaughters Jessica and Kaitlyn to Nova Scotia. He loved trips to the beach, specifically York Beach with the family and taking rides to the White Mountains and enjoying all of the attractions, especially Clark's Trading Post. Rodney greatly enjoyed spending time with Simone's family from France when they would come to visit and when Rodney and Simone went to France to visit them. He enjoyed showing them all of the beauty that New Hampshire has to offer and was happy to see the joy on Simone's face spending time with her family. The family took annual trips to Loon Pond in Gilmanton for picnics and vacationing in cabins owned by Rodney's father's friends. After giving up the family farm and subdividing the land, Rodney was very hands-on with the construction of his various homes and rental properties, his favorite being an English Tudor. Rodney enjoyed Saturday night dinners with his family. The tradition began a couple of years before losing his lovely wife, Simone, and continued until he passed away.
Rodney is survived by his three children Lora Cilcius and her husband Al, of Auburn, New Hampshire, Daniel Blunt and his wife Kari, of Londonderry, New Hampshire, and Vivianne Bausha and her husband Steve, of Bedford, New Hampshire. His grandchildren and their significant others, Jessica Tridenti and her husband Patrick of Fort Myers, Florida, Kaitlyn Tripp and her husband Ian of Goffstown, New Hampshire, and Dylan Cilcius of Auburn, New Hampshire. His great grandchildren, Bruce Hidden III, Madison Milone, Savannah Tridenti, and Jake Tridenti, his sister Jacqueline McAuliffe, of Largo, Florida and his nephew Steve McAuliffe, of Saint Petersburg, Florida. Rodney is predeceased by his true love and wife, Simone Blunt, his parents, William and Lora Blunt, his step-mother Barbara Blunt, and his brother Calvin Blunt.
Rodney was a great family man, a wonderful friend, and true Patriot. He loved his Country and served it well. He was dearly loved by all who knew him, and he will be greatly missed.
Peabody Funeral Home in Derry, New Hampshire is taking care of the arrangements. There will be no calling hours. The family is planning a Celebration of Life in the Spring/early Summer followed by a private burial at Forest Hill Cemetery in East Derry, New Hampshire. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.