Obituary for Herbert Winthrop "Herb" Rich Jr.
Herbert (Herb/Herbie) W. Rich, Jr, 90, of Northwood, NH passed away surrounded by family on October 22, 2021, following a short illness.
He was born in Chelsea, MA on September 7, 1931 to the late Herbert W. and Lillian (Reynolds) Rich, Sr. His brothers Walter, Fredrick, and Robert predeceased him as well.
Herb served proudly as a Private First Class in the U.S. Army in the Korean War from 1952 to 1954, before going on to decades of service with GE in Hooksett, as well as with the Northwood Police Department, as a Sergeant and animal control officer (and many long-since-grown Northwood students will remember him as their friendly school crossing guard).
Following his retirement, Herb remained a vibrant and well-known and loved part of the Northwood community, and more days than not, he could be found “fartin’ around” in his shed, woodworking and tinkering. Above all, he loved his family, and as gentle as he was, he was devoted to them fiercely. Anyone who knew Herb was better for it. He was hardworking, loving, and endlessly kind. What better legacy can a person leave?
He rejoins his beloved late wife, Janice (Whitney) Rich, and is survived by his son, Donald Herbert Rich; his granddaughter, Shannon Rich, her partner Jamie Griswold and his son Christopher; his grandson Tory Rich and his wife, Casey; his grandson Jacob Rich and his girlfriend, Kelly Elwood; and his grandson Caleb Black - as well as extended family and countless cherished friends.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, October 28, 2021 from 4pm to 7pm at the Purdy Memorial Chapel, 2 Concord Rd. (Rt. 4) Lee, NH. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Herb’s memory can be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation. Herb was very proud of his service to his country - and he always did love procedural cop shows.
He was born in Chelsea, MA on September 7, 1931 to the late Herbert W. and Lillian (Reynolds) Rich, Sr. His brothers Walter, Fredrick, and Robert predeceased him as well.
Herb served proudly as a Private First Class in the U.S. Army in the Korean War from 1952 to 1954, before going on to decades of service with GE in Hooksett, as well as with the Northwood Police Department, as a Sergeant and animal control officer (and many long-since-grown Northwood students will remember him as their friendly school crossing guard).
Following his retirement, Herb remained a vibrant and well-known and loved part of the Northwood community, and more days than not, he could be found “fartin’ around” in his shed, woodworking and tinkering. Above all, he loved his family, and as gentle as he was, he was devoted to them fiercely. Anyone who knew Herb was better for it. He was hardworking, loving, and endlessly kind. What better legacy can a person leave?
He rejoins his beloved late wife, Janice (Whitney) Rich, and is survived by his son, Donald Herbert Rich; his granddaughter, Shannon Rich, her partner Jamie Griswold and his son Christopher; his grandson Tory Rich and his wife, Casey; his grandson Jacob Rich and his girlfriend, Kelly Elwood; and his grandson Caleb Black - as well as extended family and countless cherished friends.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, October 28, 2021 from 4pm to 7pm at the Purdy Memorial Chapel, 2 Concord Rd. (Rt. 4) Lee, NH. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Herb’s memory can be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation. Herb was very proud of his service to his country - and he always did love procedural cop shows.