Ralph J. "Buster" Doolan

RALPH J. "BUSTER" DOOLAN, JR.

CANDIA, NH -- Ralph J "Buster" Doolan, Jr, 84, of Candia, NH, passed away March 12, 2018. He was born Nov 4, 1933 in Lancaster, NH to Ralph J. Doolan, Sr. and Kathleen (McGoldrick) Doolan. Ralph graduated from Lancaster Academy in 1952. He excelled in sports and was a member of the 1951 Class B Basketball State Champions.

He attended Norwich University and the University of New Hampshire. He later served in the US Army with the 82nd Airborne Division. In 1956 he served in Europe during the Hungarian uprising and the Suez crisis with the 11th Airborne Division.

He was a lifelong member of the Roman Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

He enjoyed a successful and varied business career. Following his school and military service, he first worked with LM Pike. Inc. as a Plant Supervisor. Next he joined Timberland Machines, Inc. in Lancaster, as one of their earliest employees. He was always proud of being on the TMI team that pioneered mechanized timber harvesting in New England with the Timberjack Skidders and Prentice Loaders. Most of his employment was spent in Maine, managing the Ashland and Bangor offices. He joined Prentice Loaders, a Division of Omark Industries in the late 1960's. He worked as a product manager and ending as national sales manager. A personal desire to return to northern New Hampshire found him back home and settling in Littleton by 1974. Here he had a series of jobs in the sales consulting field which brought him in contact with Rotobec, Inc. QC. Rotobec manufactured a unique new log grapple. They needed a sales network built in US. This was perfect fit for Ralph and Jean with the family grown. They successfully perused this challenge for several years. It was a country-wide traveling opportunity which they both enjoyed. His duties culminating with a new headquarter building in the Littleton Industrial Park. He developed a unique working relationship with the Quebec forest industry over the years.

In 1989 he and his wife Jean founded the Sawlog Bulletin Magazine, an international business journal for timber harvesters; it quickly became popular throughout northeastern US and eastern Canada. Upon retiring he passed the company on to his son, Michael.

He became active in the Republican Party late in life. He served two terms on the GOP State Committee's Executive Board. He won election in the 2012 election for New Hampshire House of Representatives, Grafton County. He felt strongly about community involvement. In his life time he served on numerous state, county and local boards. One of his deepest concerns in his last days was strengthening the character of young people in northern New Hampshire. In his passion for this cause he involved hundreds of people throughout the State and beyond. Tackle football was one of his favorite programs. He was involved as a founder, to one degree or another, in most of the independent football programs in Coos and Upper Grafton County.

He is survived by his wife Jean B. (Congdon) Doolan; two brothers, Donald Doolan and wife Sandra, and David Doolan all of Lancaster; children Vicki Lynn Kroll and husband Ron, Port Richey, FL, Carol and George Thalin, Candia, NH, Michael Doolan and wife Debra, Deerfield, NH, Terri and Michael May, Rochester, NH and Debra and Gerry Couture, Epping, NH, one granddaughter, six grandsons and two great-grandsons. He was predeceased by his parents, sister, Carol Ann and, grandson Kevin Forest Clark.

SERVICES – Calling hours will be held on Thursday, March 22nd at the Pillsbury Phaneuf Funeral Home, located at 101 Union Street in Littleton from 4:30 to 6:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 23rd at 11:00 AM at the All Saints' Catholic Church in Lancaster, NH.

The family has requested in lieu of flowers, that donations be made in Ralph's memory to the charity of their choice.