Elwin “Red” Royce, of Claremont, NH died peacefully on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at his daughter’s home in Lempster.

 He was born in Meriden, NH on May 20, 1922 the son of Charles Edgar and Sarah (Avery) Royce. At a very young age his parents had both passed away and he then lived in an orphanage in Nashua, NH and was taken into a foster home of Russell and Viola Brown of Claremont.

He worked at Bemis Paper Mill in Claremont then at APC Paper Mill and Holson Photo. He continued on part time for Esersky Hardware.

He loved to be with his family; they were his life and gave him the most joy.

The family includes his 10 children, Russell and Kathy Royce of Holly Hill, FL, Donna and Ray Greene of Springfield, VA, Jerry and Pam Royce of Claremont, Bonnie and James Granger of Easly, SC, Richard E. and Janet Royce of Cornish, Richard A. and Kay Royce of Buford, GA, Betty and David Fisher of Newport News, VA, Nancy Clayton of Lempster, David and Candy Royce of Claremont and William Royce and Cindy Couitt of Washington; 11 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandson; several nieces and nephews and numerous state and foster children, to many to name them all at their home on Green Mtn Road in Claremont over the years.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Rachel Brockway Royce whom he married on May 2, 1944 and she died on October 18, 1998; his brother, Charles Royce, who was killed on a bus on his way home from serving in the Army; a sister, Estella Coe who died in 1994 and a son-in-law, Ralph Clayton Sr who died on December 27, 2011.

A graveside service will be held in Mountain View Cemetery in Claremont on Tuesday, November 18^th at 11AM with his grandson, Pastor Jeremy Royce officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to a charity of one’s choice.