John Frederick Goodrich

John Frederick Goodrich
1925-2017

John Frederick Goodrich, 92, of Littleton, NH, passed peacefully, surrounded by family on September 21, 2017, at the Morrison, in Whitefield, NH. John was born March 14, 1925, to Ellen Kathryn Stewart and Maurice Wright Goodrich on the family farm, now Highland Lodge, in Greensboro, VT. During the Great Depression, the family left the farm to start a new life in Hanover, NH where he actively participated in the family orchestra and graduated from Hanover High School.

At age 18, John entered the Army and served in WWII in the 75th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded in the Battle of the Bulge and carried shell fragments in the wall of his heart for his entire life. He was awarded the Purple Heart, two Bronze Stars for his service. With his Army service and his government jobs, John accrued more than 40 years of service to the public, most of it with the Social Security Administration in Littleton.

John received a BA in Economics from Dartmouth College in 1949. While at Dartmouth, he met the love of his life, Therese Ann Culkin, of South Boston, MA. They were married September 11, 1947. After a short time in Boston, John and Therese moved their family to Littleton, NH where they made their lifelong home.

Paramount in John's life, were family, faith and service. John was devoted to the Knights of Columbus, in which he ascended to the highest office in the state. He was actively involved with youth baseball and hockey, and was a Littleton Hospital Volunteer. John was tough to beat in cribbage and ping-pong and enjoyed sharing his beloved Vermont and New Hampshire.

John's true joy in life was his family. He was predeceased by his wife, Therese in 2006. He is survived by his five children and their families: John, his wife Nancy, and their children, Sarah, Katy, and Andy; Ann, her husband Bruce, and their children Karlyn, Jagat, Anthony and Kristin; Paul, his wife Eileen, and their children Joe, Kip, and Casey; Jim, his wife Martha, and their children, Ryan, Matt, Josh, Jonathan, Justin and Joshua; Jane, her husband Bob, and their children Ellen, Colleen, Maggie, Genny, Anna, and Joe. In addition, John is survived by sixteen great-grandchildren and many loving friends and family members.

SERVICES -- A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church in Littleton, NH on Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at 10am. Calling hours are 6:30-8pm, Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at Pillsbury Phaneuf Funeral Home 101 Union Street, Littleton, NH.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Fisher House Foundation, www.fisherhouse.org 111 Rockville Pike #420, Rockville, MD 20850 or New Hampshire Catholic Charities, www.cc.nh.org 215 Myrtle Street, Manchester, 03104.