Richard Paul Fontaine
Owner: Dicks Lakeside Sunoco, Laconia
World War II Veteran

Laconia — Richard “Dick” P. Fontaine, 83, of 25 Union Avenue, passed away on Friday, November 9, 2007.

Born November 2, 1924, in Laconia, son of the late Frank and Beryl Fountain of Gilford. Richard was a longtime resident of Gilford and Laconia, before moving to Falmouth Foreside, Maine in 1977. He moved back to Laconia in 2003.

Richard enlisted in the US Air Corps at the age of 18, serving during World War II in India from 1942 to 1945 as a “Transportation Specialist”. He was married on Oct. 20, 1946 to Joan Nelson of Peterborough NH and together they had three loving children.

Richard was the proud owner of many service stations in Laconia including the first Atlantic Station across from Cantin’s in the early 50’s and his last in the 60’s & 70’s “Dicks Lakeside Sunoco” on Court Street. He was also the “Oil Burner Technician” for John Proulx in the early 60’s. Later in life, he was the “Service Advisor” for Hanson Chrysler in South Portland, ME. He was very active with the Lions Club of Falmouth Foreside, ME for a number of years.

Richard loved woodworking, the ocean and being with his family and friends. He loved to take his family camping to York Beach, Maine and the Kancamagus Highway in Conway, NH. Richard was a warm, caring and loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, neighbor and friend. He will be sadly missed.

He was predeceased by his wife of 45 years, Joan Fontaine, in Sept. 1991. His second son, Gerald Allen Fontaine, of Laconia also predeceased him in April, 1998.

Survivors include his daughter, Brenda Fontaine, of Concord, NH and her companion, Jeff Chapman; eldest son and daughter-in-law, Dennis & Denise Fontaine of Hudson & Pittsburg, NH. He was the cherished grandfather of five grandchildren; Camie (Fontaine) Godbois of Pembroke, NH, Marcie Fontaine of Chelmsford MA, Ronald Fontaine of Hudson NH, Kimberly Fontaine of Aptos, CA and Robin Fontaine of Plano, TX. He was the great-grandfather of three wonderful great-grandsons: Payton, Trenton & Brady and one lovely great-granddaughter, Shailagh. His surviving brothers are Reginald Fountain of Tampa, Fl., Ralph Fontaine of Gilford, NH and his sister Ruth Ann (Fountain) Goodine of Harbor City, CA and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He leaves behind his very dear friend and companion, Colleen Bombardier, of Laconia with whom he shared four wonderful years of happiness together.

There will be no calling hours.

The family invites friends and family to join them for a celebration of Richard’s life and memorial graveside service on Saturday Nov. 17, at 11:30 a.m., Pine Grove Cemetery in Gilford, NH.

For those who wish, the family requests expressions of sympathy in Richard's name be made to: Atrial Fibrillation Research, C/O Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital, Cardiology Center, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756 or to the charity organization of your choice.
Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, is in charge of the arrangements.