Earl T. Boswell

WHITEFIELD, NH -- Earl T. Boswell, 85, passed away peacefully in the Hospice Room of Littleton Regional Hospital surrounded by his family November 29, 2013. Earl was born January 3, 1928 in Whitefield, NH, youngest son of Alphonse and Alice (Gay) Boswell. It was from his meager and humble beginnings that he developed an inner strength and character that would define the relationships he developed with family and friends.
Earl graduated from Whitefield High School in 1947 where he was a standout athlete, particularly in baseball where he pitched a no-hitter in a 13-0 win over rival Bethlehem High School. He attended the University of New Hampshire with dreams of teaching history and coaching baseball. More powerful though was the love of his high school sweetheart, Jane Stearns, whom he married in 1949. For 64 years they shared their love for one another and raised their four children in Littleton.
Earl worked summers at the Mount Washington Hotel as a caddy and greens keeper. He then took two jobs, making deliveries for the Depot Store, a job that helped hone his skill of helping and serving others at their homes or place of business, and at night he worked at Downing's Garage. In 1955 he took his last and most physically demanding job with the Manchester Union Leader newspaper. For 35 years he was responsible for the early morning distribution of the newspapers from Plymouth to Pittsburg. He knew the roads of northern NH well as he left bundles of papers at mom and pop stores, pharmacies, and paperboys' homes. He also had his own route of more than 250 homes where the morning paper was there before the coffee was on.
Earl retired in 1990 and began spending winters in Florida but always returned to summer at the home he made with his large extended family and friends at Forest Lake. Earl loved gardening, tinkering with projects in the shed, playing and watching sports, and having the companionship of a good animal. Cats, and mostly dogs, were always by his side when he worked in the yard or sat on the wharf to watch the sun set on Dalton Mountain.
Earl is survived by his wife Jane (Stearns) of Franconia and four children Bonnie Boswell (David Wilson) of Whitefield, Michael Boswell (Kathy) of Littleton, Connie White (John) of Harrisville, NH, and Laurie Boswell (Arthur Hunt) of Franconia. He leaves 11 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by four siblings Una Lewis of Littleton, Mary Rodrigue of Rochester, Ruby Heafner of Dorchester, MA and Edward Boswell of Whitefield. Earl was predeceased by three siblings Fred Claus, Pete Boswell, and Deanie Woodburn.
The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff of the Lafayette Center who cared for Earl the last six months of his life, and to the palliative care nurses and Dr. Stephen Goldberg of Littleton Regional Hospital.
Visiting hours will be Friday December 6 at Pillsbury Funeral Home in Littleton from 6-8 pm. Services will be held at the First Congregational Church of Littleton, Saturday December 7 at 11 a.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be sent to Second Chance Animal Rescue (SCAR), 1517 Meadow Street, Littleton, NH 03561 (http://secondchancear.org).