William O. Grout, 95

ALEXANDRIA — William Orravill Grout, 95, died Aug. 17, 2024, surrounded by family at his home on Newfound Lake.

He was born Sept. 2, 1928, in Randolph, Massachusetts, the son of Ernest and Ruth (Dunton) Grout. His boyhood was spent on dairy farms in Easton and Stoughton, Massachusetts. It was here he spent much time in the outdoors hunting and trapping with his older brother Warren. His love for the outdoors was truly passed on to his children.

He was a two-letter sportsman for football and baseball and graduated in 1946 from Stoughton High School. He served in the U.S. Army, 52 Field Artillery 24 Division in Japan from 1946 to 1948, a proud World War II veteran. Upon his return, he attended Wentworth Institute, majoring in steam and diesel engineering and graduating in 1951. He went on to earn his bachelor of business administration degree in engineering and management in 1960 from Northeastern University.

He was employed as a service engineer and a technical writer at the GE plant in Lynn, Massachusetts, from 1951 to 1963. In 1963 he began what would be a 20-year career as a math and science teacher at the South Shore Regional Technical School in Hanover, Massachusetts.

Bill found that he enjoyed working with and helping young people, so in 1951, he formed BSA Troop 70 in Saugus and became scoutmaster. During summers, he served as camp commissioner from 1964 to 1968. In 1955, he was one of a few candidates selected to take part in an extensive Wood Badge Scouting Training course.

In 1970, he began working for the State of New Hampshire Park Division at Wellington State Park, where he served a total of 52 years. He was park manager from 1997 to 2010. He engaged the scouting community by encouraging many Eagle Scout projects which benefitted the park. He received a commendation for his work from the governor of New Hampshire.

Bill has carried a card in his wallet for years saying: "A HUNDRED YEARS from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the kind of car I drove in. But the world may be different because I was important in the life of a boy."

He is survived by his wife Edith S. Grout of Alexandria; two sons, William Jr. (Jacqueline) of Fort Meyers, Florida, and Stephen (Joyce Rogers) of Saugus, Massachusetts; two daughters, Catherine (Edward) Barber of Bristol, and Mable (Vann) Jackson of Ocala, Florida; five grandchildren, Matthew (Tracey) Barber, Maggie Grout, Kimberley Grout, William Grout and Justine McDaniel, and their partners John Decoulos, Candace Connor, and Adan Scarpetta; seven great-grandchildren, Naomi Barber, Jacob Nadreau, Patrick Dunn, Aurora Grout, Ember Grout, Kyle Decoulos and Cody Decoulos. He was predeceased by a son, Ernest Grout, and three brothers Ernest Jr., Lewis, and Warren.

There are no calling hours.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29, at the Alexandria United Methodist Church. Following the service, the procession will proceed with a final trip through Wellington State Park and on to Homeland Cemetery where he will be buried with military honors.

For those who wish, the family suggests donations may be made in his memory to the Alexandria Auxiliary Fire Department, P.O. Box 282, Bristol, NH 03222.

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