MAGLCBatchelder
Contents
CHARLES D. BATCHELDER, JR. 1933-2000
- MM 1965, WM 1972, Merrimack
- Member of Saggahew
- DDGM, Newburyport 10, 1989-1990
- Senior Grand Warden 1991
BIOGRAPHY
From TROWEL, Spring 1991, Page 2:
Bro. Batchelder, the new Lodge News Editor for TROWEL, is a Past Master and present Secretary of Merrimack Lodge, Haverhill, where he was Raised in 1965. He had been District Deputy Grand Master of the Newburyport 10th in 1989-90.
He is a teacher of graphic communications at the Whittier Regional Vocational-Technical High School in Haverhill and is a registered and licensed funeral director. The husband of Helen A. (Diehard) Batchelder, they are the parents of two sons and four daughters. Charlie is the former Treasurer of the Grace United Methodist Church of Haverhill, represents the 33rd Lodge of Instruction for the Education Department, is a member of the York and Scottish Rite Bodies, Aleppo Temple, Shrine, and a Past Patron of Fidelity Chapter. Order of the Eastern Star. He is the holder of the Joseph Warren Distinguished Service Medal and the Meritorious Service Award. In contesting R.W. Dimitrios J. Merageas for the office, Bro. Batchelder received more than the necessary two-thirds vote for election on the first ballot.
MEMORIAL
PROCEEDINGS, 2000
From Proceedings, Page 2000-105:
Right Worshipful Charles Dana Batchelder, Jr. was born in Stoneham, Massachusetts on March 14, 1933. He leaves his wife of forty-seven years, Helen A. (Dichard) Batchelder, sons and daughters-in-law Charles D. III and Patricia of Plaistow, New Hampshire, and Gregory O. and Frances of Haverhill; daughters Cheryl A. and husband Stanley Ward, Jane Asadorian and Laurie J. Groves all of Haverhill; step-brother Alvin McQuarrie of Chelmsford; 12 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was also father of the late Dianne M. Batchelder.
Brother Batchelder worked in the Composition Department at the Haverhill Gazette for several years. He was also a self-employed bookkeeper and tax preparer. He also was a licensed funeral director at H.L. Farmer & Sons Funeral Home for several years. He ran his own printing company and was a Certified Public Accountant.
For the past twenty years, Brother Batchelder was a graphics art teacher at Whittier Vocational Technical High School. Students and faculty were saddened by his death. "He was really courageous," said Idalia Ovando, a junior in graphics. "I admired him for that." Two weeks after his operation he was back doing everything. Brother Batchelder suffered from brain cancer and was not able to return to school last fall. He was a popular teacher. The students and faculty loved him. He was a real driving force. He was there early in the morning and late in the day. He was a gentleman of the old school. He will be remembered for his keen mind and great sense of humor. The school has lost a true leader.
Brother Charlie was educated in Haverhill and graduated from Haverhill Trade School in 1951. He also attended Northem Essex Community College and the New England Institute of Anatomy, Embalming and Funeral Directing. Brother Batchelder served as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1961.
Brother Batchelder was a 33rd Degree Mason, Past Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Masons, and Past District Deputy Grand Master of the Newburyport 10th Masonic District.
- Raised in Merrimack Lodge on June 16, 1965
- Secretary of Merrimack Lodge
- Secretary of Saggahew Lodge
- Secretary of Scottish Rite Valley of Haverhill
- Secretary of FreeMasons Hall Association in Haverhill
- Worshipful Master of Merrimack Lodge 1972
- Master of the 33rd Lodge of Instruction 1980-1981
- Received the Joseph Warren Medal on May 10, 1988
- Awarded the Henry Price Medal on January 1, 1991
- Member of Haverhill Commandery
- Whittier Chapter Order of DeMolay
- Past Patron of Fidelity Chapter No. 90 O.E.S.
- Member and former Treasurer of Haverhill Kiwanis Club
- Education Committee Representative 1982
- Lodge News Editior for the Trowel Magazine 1991
Charlie was the man to whom everyone turned to for answers and assistance. A dedicated Mason who worked tirelessly for our fraternity. Brother, counselor, friend and mentor to all that knew him. He will be sorely missed. Calling hours were at the Farmer and Sons Funeral Home. Funeral Services were at Grace United Methodist Church in Haverhill. Burial was at the Elmwood Cemetery, Methuen.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles A. Lukas, Jr.
Amold M. Marookian
W. Terence Stephens,
Committee
COUNCIL OF DELIBERATION, 2000
From Proceedings of the Massachusetts Council of Deliberation AASR NMJ 2000, Page A-xv:
Ill. Charles Dana Batchelder, Jr., 33°
Born in Stoneham, Massachusetts, March 14, 1933
Died in Methuen, Massachusetts, June 5, 2000
Illustrious Charles Dana Batchelder, Jr., 33°, was the son of Charles Dana Batchelder, Sr. and Mildred (Riley) Batchelder. He graduated from Haverhill Trade School in 1951, served his country in the Air Force from 1951 to 1961, and attended Northern Essex Community College and the New England Institute of Anatomy, Sanitary Science, Embalming and Funeral Directing.
In 1953, he married Helen A. Dichard, who survives with their two sons, Gregory 0. and Charles D. Batchelder, III, and their three daughters, Cheryl A. Ward, Jan E. Asadorian and Laurie J. Groves, and twelve grandchildren. He was predeceased by his daughter, Diane M. Batchelder.
A man of great energy and many talents, "Charlie" was a newspaper compositor for four decades. He was an inspiration to students during his twenty years as a graphics arts instructor at the Whittier Regional Vocational Technical Institute, where he produced the nationally acclaimed school newspaper, Technically Speaking. For ten years, he put his professional talents to work as the editor of the Lodge News section of the Trowel magazine published by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.
Ill.-. Brother Batchelder began his Masonic career in Merrimack Lodge in Haverhill, where he was raised on June 16, 1965 and served as Worshipful Master in I 972. He affiliated with Saggahew Lodge in Haverhill on June 17, 1974, and served as Secretary of both Lodges from 1993 until his passing. He was appointed District Deputy Grand Master for the Newburyport 10th Masonic District in 1989-1990 and was elected Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts for 1991, where he served with distinction and received the Henry Price Medal in 1991.
He was exalted in Pentucket Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, on May 4, 1979, and knighted in Haverhill Commandery, No. 14, Knights Templar, on June 12, 1979. He was Past Patron of Fidelity Chapter, No. 90, Order of Eastern Star, a Noble of Aleppo Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S., and a leader in many other Masonic bodies. He served as Secretary of the 33rd Lodge of Instruction/Masonic Forum, which he represented on the Grand Lodge Education Committee.
Ill:. Brother Batchelder began the Scottish Rite degrees in the Valley of Haverhill, where he served as Sovereign Prince in 1982-1983 and Secretary from 1991 until his passing. He was a member of Massachusetts Consistory and served as an officer of the Massachusetts Council of Deliberation from 1992 through 1997, rising to the position of Minister of State. ln recognition of his leadership within the Fraternity and his community, he was created a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33°, Honorary Member of the Supreme Council on August 31, 1993, in Boston.
Masonic services were conducted by Merrimack Lodge on June 7, 2000, at H.L. Farmer & Sons Funeral Home, where Ill:. Brother Batchelder served as Funeral Director and provided support and comfort to many Brethren and their families. Funeral services were held June 8, 2000, at the Grace United Methodist Church where he was a member, with his Pastor, the Reverend Peter Chyung, officiating. interment was in the Elmwood Cemetery in Bradford.
Brother Batchelder left an indelible mark on his Lodges, the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and Scottish Rite Masonry. He was loved and respected by his Brethren throughout the jurisdiction, and will long be missed by all who knew him.
