New Durham, NH

George Everett Bickford, age 95, of New Durham, NH died peacefully at Mountain View Community in Ossipee on October 9, 2018.  He was born November 3, 1922 in New Durham NH to Harry and Helen Bickford (Goodell).

George turned the family farm into Bickford's Dairy with his brother, Robert taking over during WWII. He and Robert also owned Bickford Brother's Tree farm and ran their own saw mill. In 1949, he became New Durham's rural mail carrier for 34 years.

He was a graduate of Alton High School, 1940, a Master of the New Durham Grange, a deputy forest fire warden, supervisor of the Strafford County Soil Conservation District and a Trustee of the New Durham Trust Funds. He was also a communicant of St. Joan of Arc in Alton.

In 1943 he enlisted in the Navy and was part of the D-Day invasion at Omaha Beach, France. He went on to be a 72 year member of the American Legion.

He served 42 years on the New Durham Fire Department and as its Chief from 1971 to 1981 He also served as President of Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid Association from 1977 to 1979. He was honored as New Durham's Fire Fighter of the Year in 1988 and with his wife, Eloise Bickford, as New Durham's Citizens of the Year in 1998.

Survived by his children: Barbara Lamere, (Cole LaFrance) of Barnstead; David Bickford (Carol) of New Durham; and G. Thomas Bickford, (Delina) of Wolfeboro; grandchildren: Christopher Bickford, Kimberly Neusch, Kevin Lamere, Hilary Bickford and Christina Thompson (Michael), Jennifer Russell-Bickford, Aaron Bickford and Ezra Bickford, Autumn Lea Bickford and Amelia Bickford, and great grandchildren, Riley and Alison Thompson, and Geoffrey Neusch. Predeceased in 2013 by his wife of 64 years, Eloise (Wyatt) Bickford and his sons Richard and Charles, and brother, Robert.

Calling hours are Saturday from 2-4pm at Peaslee Funeral Home, 24 Central Street, Farmington, NH, with a funeral service on Sunday, October 14, 2018 at 1 pm at the funeral home. Interment will be at John Shirley Cemetery in New Durham, NH.