 Edwin D. Ward 1847 - 1917 |
Funeral home was founded in 1880, by Edwin D. Ward, and was operated out of the Morgan Block in Lakeport Square in the Lakeport section of Laconia. At the time, Lakeport (or Lake Village in some accounts) was part of the town of Gilford until the City of Laconia was incorporated in 1893. Mr. Ward was also well known in the area as a photographer and shop keeper, funeral service being a side job in those times.
Mr. Ward continued to be active in the funeral business until his death in 1917. Around this time, the firm was bought by Mr. George B. Munsey, who had been employed at the funeral home for several years. Mr. Munsey's family have been long time residents of the Gilford and Gilmanton areas.
 George B. Munsey 1861 - 1951 |
In 1927, the funeral home moved from Lakeport Square to it's current location on Union Avenue, when the building it was originally in was to be demolished for a park and the needs of families changed. This was the period where funerals in the deceased's home was giving way to the modern style of funerals and visitation in the funeral home.
In the late 1930's, Mr. Munsey was joined by his son-in-law, Alton Weeks, and together, they ran the funeral home as Munsey and Weeks.
In 1944, Mr. Weeks died at the age of 39. At this time, Mr. Munsey decided to retire, and he sold the funeral home to Melvin A. Hicks in 1945. Much like Mr. Ward 30 years earlier, Mr. Munsey was an important part of the daily operations until his death in 1951 in his 90th year.
 Alton M. Weeks 1905 - 1944 |
Mr. Hicks conituned to operate the funeral home until 1958, when he sold to Raymond M. Robichaud. Mr. Hicks went on to own the Wheeler-Hicks Funeral Home in Bristol,NH, until the home was destroyed by fire. He soon retired and passed away in 1972.
Mr. Robichaud owned the funeral home until 1983, when Mr. Charles F. Dewhirst Jr. of Methuen,MA, purchased the firm. Mr. Dewhirst's father, Mr. Charles F. Dewhirst Sr., had been a funeral director in Lawrence,MA since 1927, and opened his own funeral home in Methuen,MA in 1949. Mr. Dewhirst Jr. continued to operate the Methuen,MA firm as well as the Laconia, NH firm jointly. Mr. Charles F. Dewhirst Jr. continued in the day to day operations of the funeral home until his death on August 25,1999.
Ownership of the Laconia funeral home passed to his son, Mr. Glenn E. Dewhirst of Laconia, who is still in charge today.
 Glenn, Barbara, & Charles Dewhirst |
Mr. Glenn E. Dewhirst was born in Lawrence,MA on June 16, 1966, and grew up in Methuen,MA. He was a graduate of Methuen,MA High School, received a BA Degree in History from Plymouth State College, Plymouth,NH, and an Associates Degree in Funeral Service from the New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences, Boston,MA.
He has been a resident of the Laconia area since 1984, and is former 5 term as state representative from Laconia/Meredith.
He is a member of Mt. Lebanon Lodge #32 F.&A.M., Chocorua Lodge #51 IOOF of Lakeport, Hannah Frances Rebekah Lodge #41 of Lakeport, Peabody-Mt. Washington Lodge #35 Order of the Eastern Star, Ellacoya Lodge #43 Order of the Eastern Star - Meredith, Scottish Rite Bodies of the Valley of Concord and Nashua, Bektash Temple AAONMS of Concord and the Winnipesaukee Shrine Club.
He is also a member of the Laconia Historical Society, Lakeport Community Association, Corporator of the Lakes Region General Hopsital, Corporator of the Taylor Home, and a member of the Gilford Community Church.
He is currently a selectman for Ward 6 in Laconia, and is a past chairman of the Belknap County Republican Committee.
He is also a member of the New Hampshire Funeral Dirctors Assoc. and the National Funeral Directors Assoc.