Hattie Evelyn (Brown) Todd 82, a longtime resident of Keene, died peacefully on Friday, November 14, 2014 in the comfort of her home with her family near after a period of declining health.
She was born the daughter of the late Eva A. (Ingalls) and Norman C. Brown on June 23, 1932 in Bradford, NH. The family moved to Keene in 1941. Hattie attended Bradford, Newbury and Keene schools. Later in life she went on to achieve her G.E.D. diploma in 1969.
On June 28, 1958 she married David P. Todd at the First Baptist Church in Keene. They have been married for fifty six years.
Hattie worked at Princess Shoe Company in Keene and later as a meat wrapper at First National Store, Fairbanks Supermarket and Mays Food Store.
She and her husband Dave teamed up to buy, refurbish, maintain and rent properties in N.H. and Florida. In the early 1970’s she was the original chief scorer at Monadnock Speedway. Hattie was very involved in her children’s lives. She was a room mother at the schools and a former Girl Scout Leader. She was Craft Chairman at the school fairs for Wheelock and Franklin Schools. Many will remember the cake decorating skills she often displayed for friends and family. When her children grew up and left home Hattie took in children for the Foster Care System and CHINs.
She had been a member of the Keene’s Women’s Club, the Emblem Club, American Legion Auxiliary and the Italian Club. Hattie enjoyed traveling with her husband. They visited Europe in 1984 and Alaska in 1985. The Todd’s wintered in Florida later in life. Avid car enthusiasts she and her husband were longtime members of the Central New Hampshire Corvair Association and CORSA. They went to 12 national conventions including; Daytona, Chicago, St. Louis, Atlanta and Washington D.C. Hattie was also an avid NASCAR fan traveling to many races. In 1958 she was the Powder Puff Racing Champion at Safford Park which is now the Cheshire Fairgrounds.
Mrs. Todd is survived by her husband, David P. Todd of Keene. She is also survived by her children and their spouses; Dawn Anderson of Naples, FL, Robin Riley and her husband Gary of Keene, Ralph Castor and his wife Dianna of Nelson and Bradford Todd of Keene. A sister, Eva Raitto and her husband Alvin of Troy, brothers, Norman Brown and his wife Jane and William Brown all of Florida and Wayne Brown of Keene. In addition she leaves twelve grandchildren; Todd, Nicole, Jessica, Parrish, Benjamin, Amber, Christopher, Shaylyn, Jacquelyn, Keegan, Emmalayne and Jacob, eleven great grandchildren and many cousins, nieces, nephews extended family and friends. Her son in-law, Michael Anderson and brothers Ona, Benjamin and Theodore “Ted” Brown all passed earlier.
All services are private and burial will take place at a later date. Donations can be made in memory of Hattie E. Todd to: Hospice and Community Services, 312 Marlboro St. Keene, NH. 03431. All services are under the care of Cheshire Family Funeral Home and Crematories, 46 South Winchester St. Swanzey, NH. 03446. www.cheshirefamilyfuneralhome.com
