Wells River, VT – Edson Warren Keith, Jr., 99, of Grove Street, died Sunday, March 13, 2016, at Cottage Hospital, Woodsville, NH.

He was born in Manchester, NH, October 22, 1916, the son of Edson Warren, Sr., and Alice (Currier) Keith.  Following his high school graduation from Hanover, Class of 1936, he went on to study agriculture at the University of New Hampshire.  He enlisted in the US Army in 1940 and while stationed at Ft. Carson, CO, he was the first volunteer to sign up for a special mission.  This special mission, a long range special forces jungle penetration unit, working behind enemy lines, was later known as Merrill's Marauders, under the command of General Frank Merrill.  This unit's main goal was to destroy Japanese supply lines and communications and reopen the Burma Road to China.

Returning home, Ed worked for a short time at the White River Veterans Hospital, before working on the railway mail cars.  He later worked as a mail carrier in Lebanon and West Lebanon.  Following his retirement from the postal service on April 4, 1979, he moved to Quechee, VT. Ed later moved to South Ryegate, VT settling in with Kelly and Rick Clough on the Clough Farm.

Ed was a life member of Haverhill Memorial VFW Post # 5245 of North Haverhill and the Wells River Congregational Church.  He enjoyed bowling, hunting, yard work and landscaping.

He married Mary Ferguson on June 18, 1946 and she predeceased him in January 1964. Ed remarried in 1965 to Ruth (White) Griggs and she predeceased him in 1993. On August 16, 1998 he married Martha (Metcalf) White. He was also predeceased by two brothers, Thomas and James Keith.

Survivors include his wife of 17 years Martha of Wells River; two sons, Edson W. Keith, III and wife Barbara of Farmington, NH, and William F. Keith and wife Janet of West Lebanon, NH; two grandchildren; four great grandchildren; along with many step children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, who all adored him.

A calling hour will be on Friday, March 18, from 11 to 12, with a memorial service to begin at 12 PM at the Wells River Congregational Church UCC, 76 Main Street, Wells River, VT, with Rev. Kate Maver, officiating.

A spring burial will be held at the convenience of the family in the Wells River Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warriors Program, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.