Alford Stenhouse Peckham

PORTSMOUTH, RI - Alford S. Peckham, 86, a resident of Aquidneck Place, Portsmouth, RI, died at Newport Hospital on December 20, 2005. Mr. Peckham had previously resided in Middletown, RI, Carlisle and Lexington, MA.He was the husband of the late Janet A. Gates Peckham and Jean Ward Peckham. Born in Newport, Rhode Island on November 4, 1919, he was the son of the late Rowland T. and Lillian S. Stenhouse Peckham.Mr. Peckham was a 1937 graduate of Rogers High School and 1941 graduate from RI College now URI. He was a member of the ROTC and served in the US Army 1st Division until receiving a medical discharge.After his discharge he enrolled in the Boston University School of Theology. While at BU he met Janet A. Gates. They were married in 1943 and remained married until her death in 1995.Mr. Peckham was first employed by the Methodist Publishing House. He then became manager of public relations for United Farmers of New England, and later served as head of Banking and Public Services at The Federal Reserve Bank in Boston until his retirement in 1984.Mr. Peckham was a founding member of the Lexington Methodist Church and served as chairman of the building committee. During his tenure the church constructed the first new Methodist Church building in New England in some thirty-five years.Mr. Peckham was also an avid participant in town politics. He served as a town meeting member in Lexington and as a member of the planning board and board of selectmen in Carlisle.After the death of his first wife, Mr. Peckham returned to Newport. There he married Jean Simpson Ward who had been literally the girl next door when she and Mr. Peckham were growing up. They remained married until Jean?s death last year. Mr. Peckham became an active member of St. Paul?s United Methodist Church in Newport, and was responsible for the establishment of the New England Methodist Historical Museum and Archives housed at St. Paul?s. Among Mr. Peckham?s many interests and hobbies were gardening, photography, woodcarving, writing, music and raising Siberian Huskies.He is survived by his children, Thomas E. Peckham and his wife Ellen Petersen of Marblehead, MA, and John G. Peckham of Willington, NC, four grandchildren Samuel G. Peckham, Anne C. Peckham, Tavish J. Peckham and Duncan A Peckham. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, December 28, 2005, at 11:00AM in St. Paul?s United Methodist Church, 12 Marlborough Street Newport, RI.A graveside service will take place Thursday, December 29, 2005, at 11:00AM in Green Cemetery, in Carlisle, MA.Donations in his memory may be made to the Redwood Library, 10 Redwood Street, Newport, RI 02840 or to the St. Paul?s United Methodist Church, 12 Marlborough Street, Newport, RI 02840.