MONROE, NH- Henry W. Hartford, 85, died Thursday evening February 11, 2010, at the Cottage Hospital in Woodsville, NH.
Mr. Hartford was born in Lancaster, NH on May 11, 1924, the son of Charlie and Alice (Cass) Hartford.
Henry was raised in Lancaster and attended schools there. He went on to attend Berlin Trade School, becoming a machinist and for a time he worked in New Britain, CT. During WWII he was drafted into the US Army, 2nd Division, fighting in 7 battles in the European Theater and the Battle of the Bulge until he was wounded. He received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. After he completed his rehabilitation he returned to Lancaster where he operated his own trucking company and worked for approximately 10 years for the Gilman Paper Company. He then went on to work for New England Telephone Co. retiring after 30 years. For many years he was also a special police officer for the Town of Littleton. He was well known for his many public and private appearances as Santa Claus in the Littleton area.
He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans.
Family members include a son Randy W. Hartford of, a daughter Bonnie A. Hartford, a granddaughter April M. Billetdeaux and her husband Vincent of all of Monroe, two great grandchildren Zachery Michael Wright Sweeney and Dasia Arula Billetdeaux. His wife Marion L. (Heath) Hartford, his 2nd wife Betsy Hartford and his grandson Aaron Dean Wright predeceased him.
Visiting hours will be held Wednesday February 17, from 11: 00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Bailey Funeral Home, Lancaster. A funeral service will immediately follow at 1:00 PM the funeral home. Reverend Ron Bruce, pastor, at the Christ United Methodist Church of Lancaster, will officiate. Burial with military honors will be held in the spring on Wednesday May 12th in the Summer Street Cemetery, Lancaster.
