2006, at Mt. Ascutney Hospital in Windsor, Vt.
He was born Feb. 10, 1930, in Lyndonville, Vt., the son of W.C. Victor Prinn
and Dorothy (Cox) Prinn of Lyndonville. He was a graduate of Lyndon
Institute in Lyndon Center, Vt., and Middlebury College. He received his
Master of Arts in Teaching from Harvard University and his Master of
Divinity from Episcopal Theological School, both in Cambridge, Mass. Ron
was an Episcopal priest and a high school and college math teacher.
He served parishes in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont, most
recently in Claremont, Charlestown and Salem, N.H. He taught school at
Lexington (Mass.) High School; Lyndon Institute and Lyndon State College in
Lyndon Center, VT; Stevens High in Claremont; and Fall Mt. High School in
Langdon, N.H. He loved both his ministry and his teaching of math. He
served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
Ron was an athlete in his younger years, captain of his high school football
team, a track star, a skier and swimming instructor. At the age of 17, he
didn't let polio slow him down. He loved to sing, and sang in a college
barbershop octet. He loved all his children and enjoyed Boy Scouts, Indian
Guides and fishing. In the 1960s he was active in the Civil Rights
movement, making trips to the south as part of the peaceful protests, and
was present at the 1963 March on Washington. He was able to realize a
lifelong ambition with a trip to Israel in 1989, and in 2000, to England,
which was his parent's place of birth. Ron's wonderful sense of humor is
something all who knew him enjoyed and will always remember. In his final
years, even when dealing with Parkinson's disease, he showed great courage,
and didn't lose his sense of humor.
He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Barbara (Pike) of Claremont;
five children, Stephen and his wife Jan of Eastford, Conn., Salli Skerry of
St. Johnsbury, Vt., Andrew of Claremont, Margaret and her companion Roger
Bonner of Langhorne, Pa., and Douglas and his wife Natalia of Hollis, N.H.;
six of his seven foster children, Lorrie Webber and her husband Dwight of
East Haven, Vt., Paula Graves of Salem, N.H., Pamela and her husband Bill
Friend and Philip Colbath, both of Pelham, N.H., and Paul and his wife Linda
Colbath of Bridgton, Maine, and Paulette and her husband David Joki of
Hudson, N.H.; grandchildren, Heather Keithan and Scott Keithan, Ali Prinn,
Shannon Prinn and Vanessa Bergeron; his sister, Thelma Richardson of
Harrisburg, Pa.; great-grandchildren; foster grandchildren; and nieces and
nephews, all much loved. He was predeceased by one daughter, Carol Jones,
in 2005; and his sister, Beverly Harwood, in 2003.
Ron was a man of strong faith in the Lord. He was part of bringing Cursillo
(a Christian renewal movement), to New Hampshire. Now he has been welcomed
into the kingdom of heaven, and is knowing a wonder and beauty that the rest
of us have yet to discover.
Visiting hours will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28, at Stringer
Funeral Home, 146 Broad St., Claremont, N.H. A memorial service will be
conducted Sunday, Oct. 29, at 2 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 120 Broad
St., Claremont with Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Bishop of N.H. officiating.
There will be a gathering immediately following the service in the church
parish hall.
Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to any Episcopal Church; or
to the New Hampshire Chapter of the American Parkinson's Disease Association
at APDA Granite State, P.O. Box 6212, Nashua, N.H. 03063.