Ernest G. Eaton ’54

DURHAM – Ernest George Eaton, 82, former resident of Eliot, Maine, and Lebanon, N.H., passed away on Feb. 28, 2015, at Spruce Wood in Durham. His wife of 60 years, Mary Louise Eaton (Mary Lou Walsh), was at his side.

He was born in Windsor, Vt., on July 8, 1932, the son of the late Everett J. and Vivian F. (Allen) Eaton. Raised in White River Junction, Ernest graduated from Hartford High School, continuing on to graduate from Maine Maritime Academy. He also received his MBA from Boston University.

Ernie served in the Merchant Marine and the U.S. Navy achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander. In 1952, as a Naval Reservist during the Korean War, he was present for the first nuclear test of a hydrogen bomb at Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands. He declined the rank of commander to return to his family.

He began his career in finance at General Electric, residing in Danvers, Mass., before moving his family to Lebanon where he worked as the controller for Split Ball Bearing and Dartmouth Printing for nearly 20 years.

Ernie was civic minded, serving as president of the Lebanon Lions Club, chairman of the United Way of the Upper Valley and as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Bank of Lebanon, as well as various other community boards.

Ernie enjoyed the solitude of the woods; hiking, walking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing nearly every day of his life, often bringing favorite dog and companion Annie along. In the mid 1990s he hiked Mt. Cardigan every month for one year to experience all of the seasons on his favorite mountain.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou, son Walter Eaton of Dover, son Everett Eaton and wife, Carol, of Portsmouth, son John Eaton and wife, Colleen, of Claremont, N.H., and four beloved grandchildren Eric Lessard, Olivia, Cullen and Broghan Eaton. He was predeceased by two brothers, Raymond Hill of Springfield, Vt. and Everett D. Eaton of White River Junction, Vt.

SERVICES: Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2015, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the J. Verne Wood Funeral Home – Buckminster Chapel, 84 Broad St., Portsmouth. A private memorial service will be held in the summer.

Visit:www.jvwoodfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest book.