TILTON ---- Stanley Elwood Piper, 96, passed away on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at the New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton.
Stan was born on December 3, 1927, in Keene, the son of George Edward Piper and Gladys L. (Naramore) Piper.
Aside from being a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and a WWII-era Army Veteran, he was an offset printer by trade, working locally for Tyler Press. Once retired, he enjoyed working p/t for the First United Methodist Church in Gilford as sexton. Stan played Santa for holiday craft fairs at the church for many years and became known as “Stanta”. Children loved his jolly laugh and real, snow-white beard. He was involved in the Streetcar Company theater group for many years and was a sculptor and woodcraftsman, as well. He attended sculpture classes in Nashua and at Plymouth State University where he met his best friend and teacher/fellow sculptor, Art Department Chair, Robert (“Bob”) Morton. Stan enjoyed many crafts. His beautiful pencil drawings, created in his 90s, and made at the NH Veteran’s Home, caught the eye of WMUR and he was interviewed by Jean Mackin. You can see the interview on the WMUR app or website by looking up the June 9, 2022 Chronicle airing.
Stanley is survived by his daughter Shirley Glines, his son Mitchell Piper and Mitch’s wife Danielle, four grandchildren, Cory, Jesse, Adam and Joseph, and six great-grandchildren, Zoe, Jaxon, Ginny, Atticus, Whitley, Willow, and with the seventh on the way. In addition to his parents, Stanley is predeceased by his six siblings, his ex-wife Marilyn (Brown) Piper, and his long-time partner, Joan Nelson.
There will be no calling hours.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at 11:00 am, at the First United Methodist Church of Gilford, 18 Wesley Way, Gilford, NH.
Inurnment with military honors will take place following the service in the Garden of Memories at the church. Reception to follow.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia NH is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to wilkinsonbeane.com.