Roland S. Kimball Jr., 84

Roland S. Kimball Jr., 84

GILFORD — On April 9, 2016, Roland Stanley Kimball Jr. of Ridgewood Avenue peacefully passed away.

"Sonny," as he was known, was born July 17, 1931, in Laconia, the son of Hazel and Roland S. Kimball Sr.

He grew up in the Winnisquam area of Belmont and graduated from Belmont High School. He attended the University of New Hampshire before serving four years in the Navy during the Korean War and then with the Reserves. Upon his return, he finished his education in graphic design at The New England School of Art in Boston.

On Sept. 29, 1959, he married Theresa Baillargeon of Gilford. They made their first home, for many years, in the Winnisquam area of Belmont and then moved to Gilford.

Sonny was a professional, very detailed graphic artist for 42 years and was employed at Tyler Press and Armstrong Press in Laconia, and later at the Center for Graphic Communications of Portsmouth. He then owned RK Graphics of Gilford.

Sonny enjoyed taking bus tours, trailer camping, walking on the beach, playing tennis and snowmobiling. He loved skiing and being an instructor at the Gunstock Ski School and liked to boast about the number of days he and Terry skied each year. He also loved playing Santa Claus for kids at the Winnisquam Fire Station and for his nieces and nephews, playing pool with them and teasing them in a good way as well as with most people he knew.

Sonny believed in helping anyone who needed it. He volunteered with the Winnisquam Fire Department, as did his father who was chief for a period of time.

He was an enthusiastic member of the Belmont Police Department and the New Hampshire State Police Auxiliary and truly enjoyed their camaraderie and his close association with and guidance from his brother-in-law, State Police Col. George Iverson, for whom he had the utmost respect and admiration.

He also was a member of several service organizations, including the American Legion Post 1 in Laconia, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Kansas City, Missouri.

He is survived by his wife, Terry; and two nephews, Philip Huckins and his wife, Gail, of Sanbornton, and James Ruggles and his wife, Kathie, of Laconia; a niece, Donna Abello of Rock Hill, North Carolina.

He was predeceased by two sisters, Phyllis Huckins and Patricia Ruggles.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph Parish, 96 Main St., Belmont, on Monday, April 18, at 11 a.m. Burial will be in the family lot in Pine Grove Cemetery, Gilford.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Attn: Tributes, P.O. Box 1000, Dept 142, Memphis,TN 38148.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.