Farmington, NH

Frank John Scruton, age 91, of Meaderboro Road in Farmington, died November 26, 2013 at Colonial Hill of Rochester. Born February 13, 1922 in Farmington, the son of Arthur G. and Mabel (Kendall) Scruton, he was a lifelong resident.



As a teenager Frank got his first start with a pair of trained steers, which performed on the stage at many fairs, parks and rodeos throughout the eastern United States and Canada. He started Scruton's Dairy with his family, in 1942, they milked the cows by hand, bottled the milk which was cooled by ice water on his mother's kitchen table and peddled it out in the back of the family's 1937 Plymouth sedan. They continued delivering milk to customers throughout Strafford County, until 1989. During the years 1977 to 1984, he received the "Holstein Progressive Breeder" award. Frank continued exhibiting "pulling oxen" every year, including 2013, at the fairs. He was well known throughout New England for many teams of "big" oxen and was in Ripleys Believe It or Not, for "largest working ox in the world".



He attended the True Memorial Baptist Church and the Meaderboro Community Church.



A member of the National and local Holstein Friesian Association of America, Granite State Holstein Club, New England Holstein Association, Strafford County Holstein Club, recipient of the New Hampshire Green Pasture award in 1974., member of the NH Farm Bureau for 70 years, recipient of the Profile Award, also the NH State Grange Century Farm award in 1981 and named outstanding NH Tree Farmer of the Year. Frank had been Superintendent of the Oxen at Sandwich Fair for over 50 years and he had been in charge of the Show oxen at Rochester Fair for 20 years or more.



Survived by his wife of 67 years: Pauline Elizabeth (Phelps) Scruton and their 4 children: John and wife Sandy Scruton of Farmington, Ruth Scruton of Farmington, Daniel and wife Judy Scruton of Montpelier, Vermont, Barbara and husband Matthew Patch of Lebanon, NH, a daughter in law: Cathleen Bailey Scruton, 18 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren, also cousins, nieces and nephews, Predeceased by his children: Ann Scruton Morrill and Arthur William Scruton, daughter in law: Sherrilyn Hutchinson, also several siblings.



Calling hours are Saturday from 4-7 pm at Peaslee Funeral Home, 24 Central Street, Farmington, NH. A Funeral Service will be held on Sunday, December 1, 2013 at 1:00pm at the Meaderboro Community Church, 151 Meaderboro Road, Rochester, NH with Rev. John F. Scruton, his son, pastor, officiating. Interment will follow at Kimball Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his memory to: Meaderboro Community Church c/o Gary Kusnierz, 83 Meaderboro Road, Rochester, NH 03867 or to Association of New England Ox Teamster Scholarship Fund c/o Faith Anderson, 1245 Battle Street, Webster, NH 03303. To express condolences, please visit: www.peasleefuneralhome.com