Richard D Delay

Richard Donald Delay Sr., 74, of Bennington, died suddenly on May 5, 2018.  He was born in Fitchburg, MA on October 3, 1943, the son of John Francis Delay, Sr. and Marie Catherine (Keaveny) Delay.  He was the husband of Linda Delay of Bennington for 53 years.

The Delay family resided in Townsend, MA where he was a graduate of Spaulding Memorial High School in 1961.  That same year he enlisted in the Navy and served as a corpsman at Chelsea Naval Hospital, in Chelsea, MA.  He would later graduate from Hawthorne College in 1979.

After leaving the service, he joined his parents at Delay’s Town and Country Store, in Greenfield, NH.  In 1980, he purchased the store from his parents.  Richard was the 1995 NH Grocer of the year, and 1999 National Grocers Association “Spirit of America” award winner. Delay’s was known as the “Store with a heart in the heart of Greenfield” for his approach to customers and the community.

He believed in being an active member of the community and was a passionate defender of the little guy.  He served on the Board of Directors of Southern New Hampshire services, New Hampshire Retail Grocer Association and Associated Grocers of New England. Richard was a charter member of the Bennington Recreation Committee and was on the ConVal school board for 9 years. He was also active in the Hillsboro County Democratic Party.

Above all, he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle. Richard and the love of his life, Linda raised their family in Bennington, NH.  He loved spending time with his grandchildren, who called him “Granddbuddy.” 

Whether family vacations to the Beach, or trips to Disney World, visits to historical sites or lunch in Boston’s North End, shared experiences were his favorite gift.  Since fully retiring, Richard and Linda have spent several months each winter in The Villages in Florida, where they enjoyed making new friends, golfing, events in the square and biking along the cart paths photographing wildlife.

In addition to his wife of 53 years, Linda (Armstrong) Delay, Richard is survived by his children Cheryl Glanton, and her husband George, of Averill Park, NY, Kathleen Reardon, and her husband Kevin, of New Boston and Richard Delay, Jr., and his wife Melissa, of Merrimack; his grandchildren Nathan, Andrew, Katherine, Megan, Drew, Matthew and Sage; his sister Mary Goodridge of Keene and his brother John Delay, Sr. of Antrim.   He will also be missed by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by his sister Christine Delay in 2007.

Visiting Hours will be held on Thursday May 10th from 4pm – 7pm at Jellison Funeral Home, 25 Concord Street, Peterborough, NH.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday May 11th at 11am at Divine Mercy Parish, 12 Church Street, Peterborough.   Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery, Bennington, NH.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Richard’s memory to: the Greenfield Food Pantry, PO Box 341, Greenfield, NH 03458, or the Bennington Historical society, PO Box 50, Bennington, NH 03442. 

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