Monroe, NH Harold A. Whipple, retired Real Estate Investigator for the Vermont Secretary of State, passed away on April 10 at the Littleton Regional Hospital. Following an uphill 10 year battle with various types of cancers, and having lost most of his eyesight, Harold remained upbeat until the very end. Harold was born in 1928 at the Whipple Family Farm on Whipple Hill in Lyndonville, Vermont, to the late Henry and Hazel Whipple. He attended the Fletcher School and Lyndon Institute. In 1945 Harold entered the US Air Force where he obtained the rank of T/Sgt. as a Flight Engineer. Flying supplies and wounded he saw many parts of the world. During his military career he obtained numerous medals and ribbons with the highlight of obtaining his Silver Wings. In 1953 Harold gave up his Military Career to aid his parents with the operation of the farm. Later, he moved to Boston and attended Boston University evening school in the study of real estate and banking which later became his passion and vocation. Harold and his wife Beverly of 55 years were married in Allston, Massachusetts, on July 16, 1955. Together they owned and operated several businesses in the North Shore Area of Massachusetts. In 1975 they purchased a home in Monroe, New Hampshire, and Harold became employed by the Time Sales Division of the Howard National Bank. In 1976 Harold joined the Vermont Secretary of State as their sole Professional Conduct Investigator covering the entire state of Vermont and parts of New Hampshire. He became a member of both the State and National Real Estate Investigators Associations, receiving many certificates and diplomas and becoming deemed the authority on real estate practices in a court of law. In June 1989 Yankee Homes Magazine, a division of Yankee Homes, featured an article about Harold, with his picture, entailing his position in state government. Harold had a great sense of humor and compassion which yielded him many friends in his life and travels. If one ever needed $5.00 and Harold had $10.00 he would give them the $10.00. He had the pleasure of having three previous Secretaries of State attend his state retirement party which spoke volumes of the type of person Harold was as an employee and friend to all. One of Harold s pleasures in life was his 1928 Model A Roadster automobile, that won many prizes, which he often provided for parades and weddings or special occasion functions. During his residence in Massachusetts he became a member of the Danvers Mosaic Lodge of Masons, the Middleton Lions Club, the Board of Trade, a Trustee of the Middleton Library and a member of various other civic organizations. For the past eleven years Harold and Beverly have made their winter home at the Twin Fountains Club in Lake Wales, Florida. Harold will be greatly missed and always remembered by his loving and devoted wife Beverly of 123 Winchester Drive, Monroe, NH. His two children and their spouses: his son Daniel and wife Roberta Whipple of 111 Gilbert Hart Lane, Wallingford, VT, and his daughter Deirdre and husband Jonathan Gawne of 399 Concord St., Framingham, MA. Two precious grandchildren Gabriana and Nathaniel Whipple of Wallingford meant so much to Grampy as he learned of their day to day accomplishments. He is survived by two sisters: Marion Sciarappa of Malden, Massachusetts, and Mildred Murtiff of St. Johnsbury; his sister-in-law Helen Fee of Florida who thought of him as a close brother; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, his infant son, his sister Marjorie Rexford, and his brother Henry Whipple of St. Johnsbury Center. Services will be held at Ricker Funeral Home, 1 Birch Street, Woodsville, NH on Friday, April 15th with a calling hour beginning at 1 PM and a Memorial Service immediately following at 2 PM. Remembrances may be sent to North Country Home Health and Hospice Agency, 536 Cottage Street, Littleton, NH 03561.