Belmont-----Jean F. Batchelder, 93, of Darby Drive, passed away on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at the Harris Hill Center, in Concord, NH. She was born in Grafton on April 13, 1922 the daughter of Samuel B. and Florence B. (Sousa) Williams.
Jean was a beloved aunt to many: to Bonnie McCosker of Hinsdale, NH, and her family, to Paul, Stephen and Janet MacKay of Port Huron, Michigan, to the families of both Richard Williams of Grafton, NH, and Elizabeth Williams Andrew of Concord, NH.
Countless others lovingly referred to her as “Aunt Jean.” She was well loved by friends and family and will be dearly missed by all. She was predeceased by her husband, Christopher R. Batchelder and by her sister Evelyn MacKay of Port Huron, Michigan.
She and her husband Christopher managed Tilton Sand and Gravel for Arthur Whitcomb for many years.
Jean was a respected female pilot, inspired to take flight instruction when she learned of the accomplishments of women in aviation at a Ninety-Nines’ meeting in 1962. She went on to get a commercial pilot’s license with ASEL&S, MEL and IFR ratings. She became interested in racing and flew several transcontinental and international speed races solo, as pilot-in-command and as co-pilot. Jean worked for an aviation-oriented business, Arthur Whitcomb, Inc. for many years; she used her plane covering several offices of the company, also to gather news for an aviation column that appeared in the Manchester Union Leader.
Jean was active in the Ninety-Nines, serving as Northern New England Chapter Chairman and New England Section Governor. She served on the International Nomination committee of the Ninety-Nines, two International Convention Committees and several New England Air Race Committees. She was a member of the Shirley Mahn Scholarship founding committee and was named to the FAA’s New England Region Women’s Aviation Advisory Committee. She was active in the Aviation Association of New Hampshire and was a past president of the organization. The New England Section of Ninety-Nines awarded Jean their Merit Award, an Amelia Earhart medal in 1982. Also, in 2015 the Eastern New England Chapter of the 99s named a scholarship in her honor..
Jean was also an accomplished author of both poetry and prose. The first edition of her book entitled History and Heroes of New Hampshire Aviation was published in 1995, the second edition in 2004.
There will be no calling hours.
A private graveside service will be held in Grafton Center Cemetery, Grafton NH.
For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research helping to develop improved therapies for those living with Parkinson's disease and find a cure for this debilitating disease (checks can be mailed to Donation Processing: The Michael J. Fox Foundation P.O. Box 5014 Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014 or donations can be made online at https://www.michaeljfox.org), The Ninety Nines scholarship fund (checks can be made out to the New England Section 99s with a note Jean Batchelder Scholarship Fund, mail to: Georgia Pappas, 209 Lynn Shore Drive, Lynn, MA. 01902), or The NH Humane Society, PO Box 572 Laconia, NH 03247, in honor of Jean and her beloved dogs.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.