Obituary of William R. Kempton

William R. Kempton, 75, of the Greens, No. Reading,Ma. and Franconia, N.H., died Saturday evening at the Salem Hospital after a short illness. He was the husband of Dorothy (Merritt) (Stephens) Kempton for the past 14 years and the former husband of the late Muriel (Jolly) Kempton who died in 1981. He was born and raised in Lynn, the son of the late William C. and Hazel (Kearney) Kempton and was a graduate of Lynn English High School in 1946. He then entered the U.S. Navy for 2 years before joining the General Electric Apprentice Training course Graduating in 1951. He first worked at G.E. in the Lynn planning division and later was in Management for 30 years before his retirement in 1989. He was an avid skier and first joined the Lynn Snochasers in 1949 and served as president in 1957. He also belonged to the Eastern Inter Club Ski League of No. Conway, NH and was a past President. He skied mostly in Franconia, N.H. where he helped organize the first World Cup Races held in No. America. He was a member of the Franconia Ski Club and served as president from 1973 until 1976. In 1989 he formed the DieHards senior racing team racing on Tuesdays in the Innkeeper Series and was active up until his recent illness. He was a member of Thomson Country Club for 40 years and helped form the Senior Golf League there. Surviving him besides his wife are a son, David W. Kempton of Boston, a daughter, Joanne Kempton/Phinney of So. Portland, Me., 4 step-children, Christian Stephens of Raleigh, N.C., Curtis and his wife Shelley Stephens of Sacramento, CA., Susan Hilliard of Brockton, Ma. and James and his wife Rebecca Stephens of Wake Forest, N.C.; 10 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. His funeral will be held on Wednesday from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home 12 Chestnut St., Peabody facility followed by Services in Union Congregational Church, Haverhill St., No. Reading at 10:00 a.m. Burial in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park,Peabody. Visiting hours on Tuesday from 4:00 until 8:00 P.M. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Franconia Ski Club, P.O. Box 462, Franconia, NH 03580 in his memory.