William "Bill" P. Boucher, 79, of Londonderry, NH passed away February 7, 2010 following a period of declining health. His devoted wife of 58 years and his loving family were at his side. He was born April 4, 1930 in Manchester, NH, son of the late George and Violet (Rivard) Boucher.
Although paralyzed and wheelchair bound following an accident in the Korean War, Bill never let his disability hamper his activities. He played wheelchair basketball and was an avid hunter, fisherman, gunsmith, hunter-safety instructor and a lifetime member of the Londonderry Fish and Game Club.
Bill was first elected to the General Court in 1971 and was a New Hampshire State Representative for 26 years. He served in multiple capacities including Chair of both the Rockingham County Delegation and the House Education Committee and was a rank and file member of the Fish & Game Committee. Among others, his former memberships include the Building Committee, Farm Operation Committee, Personnel Committee, and Executive Board Nominating Committee. He was a selectman for the Town of Londonderry and served on the Londonderry School Board where he helped create the Londonderry High School system.
Bill and his wife, Eleanor, enjoyed many years at their camp on Maidstone Lake in Maidstone, Vermont. Bill served on the Board of Directors for the Maidstone Lake Campowners’ Association where he was instrumental in the negotiations with Champion Paper to allow camp owners to purchase their lots and became the first private landowner in 1996.
In addition, Bill served on the Maidstone Lake Campowners’ Dam Committee and helped form an LLC that allowed the dam to be repaired. Bill was also active in the Guildhall Fun Flyers, a remote control airplane group.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Eleanor R. (McKinnon) Boucher of Londonderry, two sons, Wm. Patrick Boucher and his wife Cheryl of Groton, VT, Martin P. Boucher and his wife Diane of Londonderry, eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, two brothers-in-law and four sisters-in-law. He was predeceased by a brother and three sisters.
At Bill's request there were no visiting hours. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 1:00 pm in St. Jude Parish, 435 Mammoth Rd., Londonderry. Burial with military honors followed in Pine Grove Cemetery, 765 Brown Ave., Manchester. The Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Derry and Londonderry handled the arrangements. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the St. Jude Parish Community, 435 Mammoth Rd., Londonderry, NH 03053 or to the Visiting Nurse Association, 33 South Commercial St., Manchester, NH 03101-2626.