Graydon J. Fowles, 86, of Merrimack, N.H., died at Villa Crest Nursing and Retirement Center on June 21 with family at his side following an illness. He was born in Gardiner on Nov. 2, 1929, the son of Dexter R. Fowles Sr. and Ruth Jackson Fowles. He was brought up in Wiscasset by his aunt and uncle, Harriet C. Jackson and John F. Jackson.
Graydon was a graduate of Morse High School, class of 1947 and graduated from the University of Maine Orono in 1951 with a BS Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He worked 41 years with Ingersoll Rand in Painted Post, N.Y., Mocksville, N.C. and Nashua, N.H.
Graydon always took an interest in other people. He served as captain of the rescue squad with the Painted Post N.Y. Fire Department as well as teaching Sunday school and working with the Boy Scouts. He was a founding member of the Antler Inn Sporting Camp in Center Barnstead, N.H. and a member the Granite State Time Keepers Chapter 189 of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors.
In recent years, he continued to show his generous spirit by faithfully serving on the St. Andrews Episcopal Church food pantry team in Manchester, N.H. and attended church weekly serving God.
Graydon was the devoted husband of the late Elizabeth “Betty” Fowles for 60 years.
He is survived by brother, Dexter Fowles Jr. of Kittery; son, Jackson G. Fowles and wife Sandra of Litchfield, N.H.; daughter, Rebecca Starkey and husband John of Center Barnstead, N.H.; grandchildren, Adam Johnson and wife Kerri of Wakefield, Mass., Sara Kelly and husband Jim of Nashua, N.H., Patrick Starkey and wife Melissa of Loudon, N.H., and Amanda Starkey of Newton, N.H.
Graydon loved the Red Sox, Morse’s sour mustard pickles and sauerkraut, hunting ducks, reading The Lincoln County News and Stephen King, pickled tripe, a good Maine blueberry pie, and is soon to be enjoying Windjammer Days in Boothbay Harbor with Betty.
At his request there will be no services.
In lieu of flowers those planning on an expression of sympathy are asked to consider a donation in his memory to either the New Hampshire Food Bank at nhfoodbank.org; or to Zero The End of Prostate Cancer at zerocancer.org/give.
Arrangements are by the New Hampshire Cremation Society.
