1919
Henry
2018
Henry David Ahern
January 5, 1919 — September 23, 2018
Henry D. Ahern Sr. PLYMOUTH-Henry David Ahern Sr., 99, died peacefully on September 23, 2018 at the home of his youngest daughter Ina.
He was born on January 5, 1919 to Stephen Emmett Sr. and Mary Maude (Jacques) Ahern of Lower Intervale, Plymouth, NH at what is now the Glove Hollow Tree Farm. His youth was spent working on the family farm and attending the Lower Intervale one-room school house.
In April of 1936, he left high school for work to help support the family. Between then and when he joined the Army in October 1942 he worked as a self-employed truck driver; as a repairman at the Plymouth Teachers College doing carpentry, plumbing and truck driving; and as a machine operator at the L.W. Packard & Co. in Ashland pounding woolen cloth. In the Army, he received training to become an Aircraft Mechanic before transferring to the Army Air Corp in June 1944. He graduated with the Pecos, Texas 44F(July) Advanced Pilot Class and in August was shipped to the Pacific Theater to join the 38th Bomb Group, who called themselves "The Sun Setters". He flew 38 Combat Mission (253 Hours) as a co-pilot on a B-25 Bomber, flying in some of the major battles involved in the retaking of the Philippines and the south Pacific. He was also a C-54 pilot in the 1949 Berlin Airlift.
On October 20, 1945 he married Erma Anna Telfer of Plymouth, whom he tells us he decided to marry the first time he saw her in 1925 at the age of six. They lived in love together for the next 62 years. Their first 17 years were spent traveling to his duty stations in Rome, NY; Enid, OK; Westover AFB, MA; Hanscom AFB, MA and Warner Robins, GA in the United States and overseas in the Philippines, Eniwetok, and Japan while raising 4 children. He retired in 1962 as a Major after 20 years of service. The family returned to Plymouth where Henry built a house for his family on Route 3 in Lower Intervale. He worked a while for Scott & Williams in Laconia and as a World Book Sales representative. In 1966 Henry went to work as assistant-manager for Harris Brothers Furniture in Plymouth. He retired as manager in 1984. The following year, when his wife retired from her position as secretary to the Plymouth Board of Selectmen, they began spending the winter in Zephryhills, FL. In the summer they would return to their cottage on Little Squam Lake in Holderness.
He continued to follow this schedule, after Erma passed away in 2008, until 2015 when he began to live year around in NH with his daughter, Ina. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Margaret Thompson, and 4 brothers Laurence, Stephen Jr, Omer Sr, and John. He is survived by two daughters, Sr. Shirley Marie Ahern, OCD of Latrobe, PA and Ina J. Ahern of Plymouth; two sons, Henry D. Ahern Jr. and Bruce D. Ahern, both of Plymouth; six grandchildren; 10 great-grand-children, and many nieces and nephews.
SERVICES: Calling hours are Thursday the 27th from 5 - 7 pm at Mayhew Funeral Home, 12 Langdon St. Plymouth. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday the 29th at 10 am in St. Matthew Church, School Street, Plymouth. Reception will follow at the home of Bruce Ahern, 503 Daniel Webster Hwy (Rte 3) Plymouth.
Interment will be at the NH Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen on Monday, Oct 1st at 9 am.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Telfer Scholarship Fund, c/o Northway Bank, Plymouth 03264.
The Mayhew Funeral Home 12 Langdon Street Plymouth, NH 03264 is assisting the family with arrangements. To view Henry's online book of memories go to; www.mayhewfuneralhomes.com
He was born on January 5, 1919 to Stephen Emmett Sr. and Mary Maude (Jacques) Ahern of Lower Intervale, Plymouth, NH at what is now the Glove Hollow Tree Farm. His youth was spent working on the family farm and attending the Lower Intervale one-room school house.
In April of 1936, he left high school for work to help support the family. Between then and when he joined the Army in October 1942 he worked as a self-employed truck driver; as a repairman at the Plymouth Teachers College doing carpentry, plumbing and truck driving; and as a machine operator at the L.W. Packard & Co. in Ashland pounding woolen cloth. In the Army, he received training to become an Aircraft Mechanic before transferring to the Army Air Corp in June 1944. He graduated with the Pecos, Texas 44F(July) Advanced Pilot Class and in August was shipped to the Pacific Theater to join the 38th Bomb Group, who called themselves "The Sun Setters". He flew 38 Combat Mission (253 Hours) as a co-pilot on a B-25 Bomber, flying in some of the major battles involved in the retaking of the Philippines and the south Pacific. He was also a C-54 pilot in the 1949 Berlin Airlift.
On October 20, 1945 he married Erma Anna Telfer of Plymouth, whom he tells us he decided to marry the first time he saw her in 1925 at the age of six. They lived in love together for the next 62 years. Their first 17 years were spent traveling to his duty stations in Rome, NY; Enid, OK; Westover AFB, MA; Hanscom AFB, MA and Warner Robins, GA in the United States and overseas in the Philippines, Eniwetok, and Japan while raising 4 children. He retired in 1962 as a Major after 20 years of service. The family returned to Plymouth where Henry built a house for his family on Route 3 in Lower Intervale. He worked a while for Scott & Williams in Laconia and as a World Book Sales representative. In 1966 Henry went to work as assistant-manager for Harris Brothers Furniture in Plymouth. He retired as manager in 1984. The following year, when his wife retired from her position as secretary to the Plymouth Board of Selectmen, they began spending the winter in Zephryhills, FL. In the summer they would return to their cottage on Little Squam Lake in Holderness.
He continued to follow this schedule, after Erma passed away in 2008, until 2015 when he began to live year around in NH with his daughter, Ina. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Margaret Thompson, and 4 brothers Laurence, Stephen Jr, Omer Sr, and John. He is survived by two daughters, Sr. Shirley Marie Ahern, OCD of Latrobe, PA and Ina J. Ahern of Plymouth; two sons, Henry D. Ahern Jr. and Bruce D. Ahern, both of Plymouth; six grandchildren; 10 great-grand-children, and many nieces and nephews.
SERVICES: Calling hours are Thursday the 27th from 5 - 7 pm at Mayhew Funeral Home, 12 Langdon St. Plymouth. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday the 29th at 10 am in St. Matthew Church, School Street, Plymouth. Reception will follow at the home of Bruce Ahern, 503 Daniel Webster Hwy (Rte 3) Plymouth.
Interment will be at the NH Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen on Monday, Oct 1st at 9 am.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Telfer Scholarship Fund, c/o Northway Bank, Plymouth 03264.
The Mayhew Funeral Home 12 Langdon Street Plymouth, NH 03264 is assisting the family with arrangements. To view Henry's online book of memories go to; www.mayhewfuneralhomes.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Henry David Ahern, please visit our flower store.
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