Frederick S. Tinkham, of Windham, NH, died Saturday, December 27, 2008 in the Parkland Medical Center in Derry, NH. He was born in Scituate, RI, a son of the late Fred D. and Virgie A. (Burlingame) Tinkham, and moved to Windham in 1944.
He began his career in the manufacturing of lumber products. In 1944, he started Pelham Lumber Company in Pelham, NH. A full retail outlet of lumber and building products, that later expanded to two other manufacturing locations, a wholesale division in Claremont and in New Boston, NH. Fred, whose simple philosophy has always centered on serving the needs of the community, he started by building single-family homes in the growing Southern NH area. From 1963 -1973 he built over 400 single-family homes. His residential sub-divisions, well known for their careful layout and distinctive designs, include Arrowhead Estates in Londonderry, NH and Windham, Tinkham Estates in Londonderry and Barkland Acres in Derry. He also built and managed a 195-unit apartment complex in Londonderry (Woodland Village), gaining further expertise in the housing industry.
In 1967, together with his daughter Judy opened a real estate office, known as Tinkham Realty, Inc. in Londonderry. He served as President until his retirement in 1973. Recognizing a need for “balance” in land development and building construction, he next turned to attracting industry to the area. With the formation of Tinkham Industrial and Development Corp., he built the Tinkham Industrial Park in Derry. Other commercial industrial construction projects completed include Hadco Printed Circuits (Sanmina) in Derry, Centronics in Hudson, Rockingham County Trust Bank in Salem, NH, Parlex Corp. in Methuen, Ma, The Deerfield School Extension and numerous other steel structures.
In 1970 he became an incorporator and Director of the Rockingham County Trust Bank in Salem.
Retiring in 1973, he was an avid hunter enjoying moose and bear hunting, target shooting, as well as gardening. For many years he served as part time Sheriff for Rockingham County and was a member of the motorcycle unit, riding in numerous parades and special events for various charities. He joined the Blue Knights NH 1 chapter in 1976, and served as a Director for 11 years. Fred’s love of riding of his motorcycle was well known; he traveled thousands of miles to attend the Blue Knight conventions and traveled all over the Northeast to attend other Blue Knight Chapters and Charity Rides.
He loved nothing better than to ride hours upon hours and he now rides with pride with Heaven One.
He was very devoted to public service and was actively involved in St. Marks Lodge #44 in Derry; Scottish Rite Bodies-Valley of Nashua as a 32nd degree Mason; Derry-Salem Elks Lodge, honorary life member (48 years); Bektash Shrine of Concord; Pelham Fish and Game Club of which he was a life time member and Shriners of North America. In 1969 he served on the Citizens Task Force formulating a Blue Print for New Hampshire. He was a Charter member of the Southern NH Builders Association in 1972, was a Realtor for over 30 years licensed in NH and MA, and was a member of the National, State and Local Association of Realtors.
From 1983 -1989 he served on the United States Congressional Advisory Board under the Reagan Administration as a State Advisor for Family and Social Issues. He was very proud of his accomplishments considering he had an eighth grade education, but always knew what was right and what was wrong and he lived by that.
Family members include his wife Lydia; daughter Judy M. Tinkham of Windham; sons Fred L. Tinkham of Moultonboro, NH and John D. Tinkham of Derry; sister Gertrude Etheridge of Ct.; grandchildren Mark and Tammy (Tinkham) Smart of Sandwich; Fred L. Tinkham, Jr and wife Vikki of Moultonboro; several great grandchildren; as well as several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by five sisters, Marguerite Moran, Helen Marifino, Virginia Turnquist, Emily Bourassa, and Genevieve Bennett.
There are no calling hours. Private graveside services will be held in the Cemetery on the Plain in Windham. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02144. The Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry is handling the arrangements.