Raymond Lowd

Raymond Edward Lowd, 88, of Kearsarge passed away peacefully at his home on June 15, 2011. He was surrounded by friends and family. Ray as friends knew him was born on December 31, 1922 to Edward and Edith (Eastman) Lowd in North Conway. He attended local schools even skipping a grade in high school and graduating in 1939.
After high school he trained as an apprentice machinist at General Electric in Lynn, MA. In 1943 he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve where he served as a seaman 2nd class in flotilla No.1-412 in Winthrop, MA. He also served as beach patrolman on the Lynn and Nahant beaches, being honorably discharged in 1944.
Mr. Lowd returned to Keasarge and operated his own machine shop. He worked primarily building and maintaining wood working machinery for the Yield House Furniture Company.
He joined the North Conway Fire Department in 1946. He rose through the ranks and became chief of the department in 1960, serving until his retirement in 1985.
Upon his retirement he served as the Fire Inspector for the town of Jackson for several more years.
He was a member of the Mt. Washington Lodge #87 F&AM serving as master in 1959.
He enjoyed yearly vacations to Maine with his family. Upon his retirement, he and wife Louise enjoyed a once in a lifetime trip to Hawaii.
Raymond was married to Louise (Ormsby) Lowd for 56 years until her passing in 2008.
He is survived by his son Ronald of Concord; a daughter Laurie of Hopkinton and his loyal feline companion, Buddy.
Visiting hours will be Sunday June 19, 2011 from 400 pm to 600 pm at the Furber and White Funeral Home in North Conway. Funeral services will be held on Monday June 20, 2011 at 1100 a.m. in the First Church of Christ Congregational in North Conway with the Rev. Gilman E. Healy, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the Kearsarge Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the North Conway Firefighters Association, P.O. Box 218 North Conway NH 03860, or the Conway Area Humane Society