Frederic E. Copp, 94

MEREDITH — Frederic E. Copp, of Waukewan Street, in Meredith, passed away suddenly, at home, on April 20. He was 94 years old.

Fred was a kind, friendly man with a good heart. He made friends wherever he went. He was a man who worked hard all his life, starting at 14 years of age. He spent his early years working for the highway department for the town of Center Harbor, then he moved on to working on a logging truck. From there, he worked at different gas stations, finally ending up at AMATEX, the mill in downtown Meredith, where he worked as the head of the maintenance department for 27 years. During this time, he was drafted into the Army in February 1953, to serve as an officer in the military police. He returned home as a corporal in November 1954. He also had his own little side business of repairing small engines for many years, and he was known far and wide for the furniture he rebuilt and refinished, bringing new life to pieces that had been ready for the dump. In the 1980s he started up Meredith Fire Equipment, selling and servicing fire extinguishers. He ran this business until 1996, when he sold it to become Meredith's first full-time fire chief.

Fred joined the volunteer Meredith Fire Department in 1960, and worked his way up from an on-call firefighter all the way up to chief. In 1986, he made history in the Town of Meredith, by becoming their very first full-time chief. He remained in that position for 10 years until he retired for good in 1996.

Fred was born in Center Harbor, to Lewis and Lillian (née Hubbard) Copp in 1932, the last of 10 children, and went to school in Ashland, graduating in 1950. He was born an uncle, and became a great-uncle by the age of 17. He was pre-deceased by his parents and all of his siblings, as well as his infant son, Frederic Eldin Copp Jr., born in 1952. He was married to Jeanine (née Bliss) Copp in November of 1951, and was working so hard to stay around to celebrate their 75th anniversary this coming November. He almost made it.

He leaves behind his beloved wife of 74.5 years, Jeanine, as well as his loving daughter, Pamela (née Copp) Finer, and her husband William of Meredith. Survivors also include his grandchildren, Allison Cook of Concord, Matthew Cook (Bonnie Therrien) of Bartlett, and bonus granddaughter Zoey Labraney of Franklin; step-grandchildren Brian Finer of Effingham, and Alissa Brown of Alfred, Maine; many nieces and nephews; and finally, a very special nephew (whom he thought of as a son), Thom (Cindy) Copp of Grand Junction, Colorado.

Calling hours will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 24, at Mayhew Funeral Home, 204 Daniel Webster Hwy.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, also at Mayhew Funeral Home, led by Pastor Roger Brown. This will be followed by a graveside service at the Meredith Village Cemetery, with a reception immediately following at the Meredith Fire Station.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Wamesit Fire Company, the Meredith Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, or the Meredith chapter of the American Legion.

Arrangements are under the care of Mayhew Funeral Homes and Crematorium. To sign the online book of memories, visit mayhewfuneralhomes.com.