STRATHAM - Paul F. Barlow, 89, of 27 Guinea Road, died Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004, at the Rockingham County Nursing Home, Brentwood, after a period of declining health.

He was born Sept. 29, 1915, in Exeter, the son of Frederick and Marie (Sorenson) Barlow. He had been a longtime resident of Exeter, moving to Stratham after his retirement.

He was a 1933 graduate of Exeter High School.

He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, serving as a cryptologist.

Mr. Barlow was employed by the U.S. Post Office in Exeter, retiring in 1971. For a number of years he worked part time at the N.H. Savings and Loan Bank, Exeter.

He was an avid gardener. He enjoyed nature and respected wildlife and was a hunter and trapper in his youth. He was also an accomplished artist, particularly in the field of wood carving. He enjoyed reading.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Thelma C. Barlow of Stratham; two daughters and their husbands, Linda and Bill Grant of Kingston and Jane and John Bernier of Kensington; three sons, Robert Barlow of Kensington, Peter Barlow of Stratham and Christopher and his wife Brenda Barlow of Brentwood; 11 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by one grandson, Christopher Bernier.

Family and friends are invited to an open house Thursday, Dec. 30, from 2 to 4 p.m. to celebrate Mr. Barlow’s life at the home of Jane and John Bernier, 71 Wild Pasture Road, Kensington.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Rockingham County Nursing Home, 117 North Road, Brentwood, NH 03833 or to the Exeter Historical Society, 47 Front St. Exeter, NH 03833.

Arrangements are by the Brewitt Funeral Home, Exeter.

Raymond Belanger

HAMPTON - Raymond Belanger, 73, died Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2004, in Exeter Hospital.

He was born in Lawrence, Mass., was a 1949 graduate of Central Catholic High School and a U.S. Air Force veteran.

Mr. Belanger owned and operated Swimming Pool Center in Lawrence before his retirement in 1981. He had previously worked with his family at Belanger Brothers Co. as a finish carpenter.

He was a communicant of St. Patrick Church, Lawrence.

He was an avid sailor and enjoyed sailing in the Caribbean with his wife.

He is survived by his wife, Michelle (Denise) Belanger of Hampton; one son and his wife, Michael and Darlene Belanger of Hebron, Conn.; one daughter and her husband, Linda and Kevin Cyr of Methuen, Mass.; four stepchildren, Sheryl Castles of Hampstead, Michael Stankus of Manchester, Mass., Carmen Scalia of Haverhill, Mass., and Steven Scalia of Auburn, N.Y.; four grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; one sister, Dorothy Barney of Marblehead, Mass.; and several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held Monday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Cataudella Funeral Home, 126 Pleasant Valley St., Methuen. Funeral services will be held at 8 p.m. in the funeral home. Cremation will follow.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 30 Speen St. Framingham, MA 01701-4688.

John J. Shields Jr.

KINGSTON - John J. "Jay" Shields Jr., 63, died Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2004, in Hampstead, after a sudden illness..

He was born in Woburn, Mass., and had resided in Reading, Mass., before moving to Kingston.

He was a graduate of St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers, Mass., and attended Boston College.

Mr. Shields was president of Diamond Excavators of North Andover, Mass., for many years and was a 30-year member of Local 4 International Union of Operating Engineers.

He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Sharon (Morrisey) Shields; seven children, Lisa Bishop of Atkinson, Treacy Shields of Newburyport, Mass., John J. Shields III of Amesbury, Mass., Elin Shields of East Kingston, Ted Shields of Salem, and James "JT" Shields and Kayla Shields, both of Kingston; seven grandchildren; two sisters, Joy Reiss of Plymouth and Maureen Eldridge of Haverhill, Mass.; one brother, Mark Shields of Columbus,Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Sunday in Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, Plaistow. Private burial was in Kingston.

Memorial donations may be made to the Kayla Shields College Fund, c/o Merrimack Valley Federal Credit Union, Osgood St., North Andover, MA.