Peter D. Didsbury, 78

Peter D. Didsbury, 78, of Columbia, passed away on Monday morning, April 18, 2022, at his home after a year-long battle with cancer.

He was born in Syracuse, N.Y., on Sept. 29, 1943, a son to Richard and Pauline (Gensel) Didsbury. He spent his early years in Conifer, N.Y., and attended junior high school in Tupper Lake, where he enjoyed playing football. His family relocated to North Stratford after that and he was a 1963 graduate of North Stratford High School.

After high school, Peter enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served with honor until 1967. It was in the Navy that he was trained as an air traffic controller.

Following his military service, he married Annie Fuller in 1969, and then he worked for the next 26 years as an air traffic controller for the F.A.A., first in Buffalo, N.Y., and later in Boston at Logan Airport.

In 1995, Peter retired and they moved back north and built his dream home on Fish Pond in Columbia.

Peter loved woodworking and fashioned much of the furniture in his home. He loved to maintain and work on his log home, as well. In his early years, he loved to hunt and build huts with his friends and he also enjoyed brook fishing with his father-in-law.

One of Peter’s favorite things to do was to go out for coffee each morning at Howard’s Restaurant with “the guys.” He also loved to cook and was famous for “Pistol Pete’s” chili. His grandchildren were his pride and joy, and loved being with them as much as possible.

He is survived by his loving wife Annie (Fuller) Didsbury of Columbia; two daughters, Cheryl Didsbury of Errol and Carolyn Didsbury of Woburn, Mass.; his three grandchildren, Jessica (Cameron) Harrison of Plymouth, N.H., Erika Rothrock of Somerville, Mass., and Joey (Nicole) Didsbury of Campton, N.H.; one he considered as close as a sister, Kathy Nugent of New York; as well as nieces, nephews and cousins.

Peter is predeceased by his father, Richard Didsbury; his mother, Pauline Richmond; and a sister, Delite “Sissy” LeClair; and his in-laws who he adored, Darwin and Edna Fuller.

Calling hours will be on Sunday, May 1, 2022, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook. A funeral will take place the next morning, Monday, May 2, at 11 a.m. at the 1stBaptist Church in North Stratford. Burial will immediately follow, with military honors, at the Center Cemetery in Stratford.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Mr. Didsbury may be made to the 1st Baptist Church, P.O. Box 28, North Stratford, NH 03590.

Condolences may be offered to the family online by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook.