Ronald Dexter Carr

Ronald Dexter Carr, 92, of Merrimack passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Tuesday January 9, 2024. Ron was a long-time resident of Nashua prior to moving to Merrimack in 1991. He was born in Brockton, MA on August 10, 1931, son of the late Kenneth and Alice Evelyn Carr.

He was the childhood friend, high-school sweetheart and loving husband of the late Rowena (Lindsay) Carr. They were married on October 7, 1956 for 64 years.

In his youth, Ron was influenced by his grandfather, Rufus Carr a naturalist, Audubon member, and Director of Forestry Service for Brockton Massachusetts. He and his grandfather raised chickens and rabbits, hunted, gardened, explored flora and fauna, recorded bird habitat and bird-watched. As a teen, Ron and Rowena, belonged to the Pearl Street Methodist Church Youth Group in Brockton, Massachusetts, participating in activities and mission work. In the weekly roller-skating outing, Rowena always asked Ron for the final dance together. During the summers, Ron’s family and friends gathered at their beach cottage in W. Yarmouth, Cape Cod where they enjoyed summer pastimes playing canasta, swimming, boating, and quoahogging.

Ron graduated from Brockton High School in 1948 and was co-captain of the varsity tennis team. An excellent tennis player, his tennis serves were legendary, as they were often impossible to return. Following high school, he served in the United States Army as Master Sergeant during the Korean Conflict and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his heroic service. Ron attended Northeastern University on the GI Bill in the Cooperative Education program where he also played tennis on the university tennis team. He received a Bachelor’s of Science in Industrial Engineering in 1961.

After graduating from Northeastern University, he started his 34-year career at Sanders in Nashua as an Industrial Method Engineer. After many corporate changes he retired from BAE systems as

Manager of Manufacturing Program Management, Defense and Industry Division. He was intelligent, hard-working and well-liked by his colleagues. He received many awards and recognition for excellence as the Program Manager of many defense system projects.

Ron was a man of great faith and dedication, and he devoted his life to serving the Church, his family, friends and the wider community. He was a devoted member of Pilgrim Congregational Church for 65 years where he served many leadership positions. He was chairman for many construction projects including Pilgrim Church Little Pilgrim School and the design and construction of all the stained-glass windows in the sanctuary. Ron enjoyed supporting youth organizations and was active in both Girl and Boy Scouts for many years. He established the Junior Achievement Chapter and Boy Scout Troop 19 at Pilgrim Church.

Ron was a technologist, naturalist, ornithologist, and outdoors enthusiast. He loved to camp, play tennis, hike, bike, swim, boat, sail, and water-ski. For relaxation, Ronald and Rowena enjoyed over 50 years of fun-filled summers with their four children and all their friends on Frye Island, Sebago Lake in Maine. They even “roughed-it” in the winter cross-country skiing across the lake to the cottage. Ron and Rowena both skied into their late 80s to the amazement of many. Even after a full day of skiing, Ron was a formidable opponent playing scrabble, cribbage, and continental.

Ronald was an avid bird watcher and an active member of the Audubon throughout his life, beginning in the Brockton Junior Audubon Society lead by his grandfather, Rufus Carr to serving as President of the Audubon Nashaway Chapter for many years. Ron traveled with the Audubon locally and internationally to Africa, Iceland, Norway, and Scotland. He and his daughter, Roz, participated in the annual bird count for many years.

After Ron retired, he and Rowena had fantastic adventures traveling together and with friends and family to the National Parks, and internationally to Italy, Switzerland, Spain, England and celebrated their 50th anniversary in Africa on an Audubon trip.

He was a kind, patient, proud and devoted husband, father of four children, and “Grampy” of 7 grand-children and 4 great-grandchildren. Ronald is survived by his children: Jeff Therrien and Rosalind (Carr) Therrien of Merrimack, Gary Carr and Michelle (Troyer) Carr of Merrimack; Natalie Carr Bedard of Merrimack; Greg Carr and Kelly (McMahon) Carr of Nashua; Grandchildren Harris and Jennifer (Carr) Tran, Jacob Therrien, Alex and wife April (Meyer) Carr, Hannah Contreras-Therrien and wife Alexis Contreras-Therrien, Patrick Carr, Katie Carr and Brianna Bedard; Great-grandchildren: Hudson and Emilia Tran, Aiden and Ashton Carr and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

SERVICES: Visitation will be on Thursday January 25, 2024, from 3:00-5:00pm at Davis Funeral Home, 1 Lock St., Nashua, NH 03064. A memorial service will be held on Friday January 26, 2024, at 10:00am at the Pilgrim Congregational Church, 4 Watson St., Nashua, NH 03064. Attendees may attend the service via ZOOM by contacting Kathy Crouse at 603-882-1801 or nashuapilgrim@gmail.com. Interment and committal prayers will immediately follow at Edgewood Cemetery, 107 Amherst St., Nashua, NH 03064.

Family and friends are invited to attend. The DAVIS FUNERAL HOME, One Lock St., Nashua has been placed in charge of arrangements. An online guest book is available at www.davisfuneralhomenh.com, (603-883-3401) “ONE MEMORY LIGHTS ANOTHER”.

Donations in Ronald Carr’s memory may be made to Pilgrim Congregational Church, 4 Watson St, Nashua, NH or the Parkinsons Foundation. Support the Parkinson’s Foundation – Parkinson’s Foundation (convio.net)