Prescott Greene

Born July 16, 1935, in Portsmouth, NH, he was the son of Edward Leroy Greene and Elizabeth Alice White.

He was a 1953 graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and a 1957 Summa Cum Laude graduate of The University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.

He worked as a laborer and equipment operator for the Town of Rye, NH, Urban Beane Construction Co., and his father’s contracting company during high school and college. He was awarded a General Electric scholarship for his senior year at UNH. Between his junior and senior years he worked as a student engineer for Joy Manufacturing Company at the Claremont, NH plant. 

After graduation he went to work in Claremont for Joy, the world’s leading manufacturer of underground mining equipment. In 1966, he came with his department when it was moved to Franklin. He stayed with the company for 41 years, holding positions as Design Engineer, Chief Engineer, Product Engineer, and Director of Engineering.

He was baptized and confirmed in 1950 at the Bethany Congregational Church in Rye. As a teenager he was an active member of the Pilgrim Foundation, and held local, county and state offices in that organization. After starting at Joy, he transferred membership to the Congregational Church in Claremont, where he held positions on the Trustee and Finance commissions. Upon arriving in Franklin, he transferred membership to the Franklin First United Methodist Church. He taught youth and adult Sunday school classes for 38 years, and served on many boards and committees.

He retired from Joy in 1998. He devoted more of his time to the church, and in 2004 received an Oil Heritage Region Historical Preservation Award for this work. He volunteered for years at DeBence Music World, where he specialized in restoration and repair of band organs. He served as Executive Director of the museum. In 2007 he was recognized for his work at DeBence by the Chamber of Commerce, which named him Man of the Year.

He was married June 16, 1956 to Dorothy Elizabeth Binmore, who survives him. He carried her bobby pin from their first date with him for his entire life, and she was his partner in his work at DeBence, the church and their other adventures.  

He is survived by his children, Peter (Amanda) of Franklin, David (Becky) of Hermitage, and Joanna Jones (Bob) of State College; his grandchildren Barbara Alfeo (Nick) of Seattle, Thomas Greene (Bryana) of Conneaut Lake, Ben Jones and partner Claire Kelling of Northfield, MN, Patrick Jones (Kathryn) of Ardmore, Paige Greene of Sharon, Harrison Greene (Tiffany) of West Middlesex, and William and Walter Greene of Franklin; and his great-grandchildren, Felix, Artie, Simon and Dorothy Alfeo of Seattle, and Emmalyn Greene of Conneaut Lake. His sister Betsi Greene, of Rye, NH, also survives.

His hobbies included gardening, landscaping, genealogy and antique car restoration. He owned and restored a 1914 Federal Fire Truck that he used for giving rides to family and neighborhood children, and a 1940 Buick convertible. He acquired a large collection of big band and jazz recordings, with a particular emphasis on Glenn Miller; the collection was used for years to power the Saturday Morning Big Band show on WFRA. He enjoyed annual summer and fall visits to the family camp in Maine which he rebuilt over a period of twenty years.

The family will receive visitors at the Franklin First United Methodist Church on Thursday, August 3 from 10:00-11:30, and 12:00-1:00. A celebration of his life will follow at 1:00. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 1102 Liberty Street, Franklin, or DeBence Music World, 1261 Liberty Street, Franklin. 

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Huff-Guthrie Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc., 312 West Park St. Franklin.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.HuffGuthrie.com.