Harold Earle Kidder III, 65, of Chase Hill Road, died suddenly on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 in Burlington, Vermont. He was born in Franklin on March 8, 1948, the son of Harold E. and Claribel M. (Hooper) Kidder, Jr.

He graduated from Franklin High School in 1967 and furthered his education at Manchester VocTech. He then served in the US Air Force during Vietnam, spending time in Iceland and Thailand.

Earle was a master toolmaker, working at a number of local industrial places of business including Beede Electric in Penacook and most recently Sturm, Ruger in Newport. He lived in Andover the majority of his life.

A collector of guns, he was a member of the National Rifle Association. Earle enjoyed museums, air shows, and most music, but particularly classic country western.

He is predeceased by his sister, Edith Hutchins. Members of his family surviving include a daughter, Florence Gayle Coston of Moorestown, New Jersey; a son, Harold Earle Kidder, IV of Andover; two grandchildren, Bailey Emerson Coston and Julie Marie Kidder; three brothers, Roger and his wife Kitty Kidder of Andover, Robert Kidder of Merrimack, and Rex Kidder of Salisbury; and nieces and nephews.

Friends visited on September 15 at Roger and Kitty’s cottage on Highland Lake. Memorial contributions may be made to New Hampshire Lung Association, 1800 Elm Street Unit D, Manchester 03104. To sign an online guestbook, please visit ChadwickFuneralService.com.