CONCORD, N.H. – W. Dwight Barrell, of 5 Tow Path Lane, died Friday, Oct. 14, at Presidential Oaks in Concord, N.H. He was 87 years old.

He was born in Lewiston, the son of William Parker Barrell and Addie Stephens Barrell. He graduated from Leavitt Institute in Turner, with honors as a debater. A 1940 graduate of the University of Maine at Orono, he was elected president of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, was elected to the Alpha Zeta honor society and served as editor-in-chief of the 1940 Class yearbook, The Prism. He was a member of Rotary International for 36 years.

During World War II, he served in the European Theater as an Air Corps group commander, operating combat air fields in England and France. In 1978, he was retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a lieutenant colonel with 37 years of service. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for outstanding service. He also received the American Defense Service Medal, the European Theater Ribbon with three battle stars, the World War II Victory Medal and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. After World War II, he served as commander of Air Force Reserve Units in central Maine. He was also appointed to serve as the U.S. Air Force representative on the staff of the adjutant general of the state of Maine.

In 1965, he was appointed by the governor of Maine to organize and to serve as director of the Maine Industrial and Recreation Finance Approval Board. This agency was responsible for financing industrial and commercial projects that successfully contributed to the economic growth of the state.

In 1970, he was invited to Concord, N.H., to form and direct the first Economic Development Department in the city. He served in this capacity until retirement in 1987. During this period, three new industrial parks were built, increasing the tax base and creating greater employment in the technology field.

In 1975, the American Economic Development Council awarded the degree of certified economic development director to him. In 1998, the Capital Regional Development Council, with whom he had served for more than 25 years, dedicated an industrial park street, Barrell Court, in recognition and appreciation for his many years of dedicated efforts in creating economic development opportunities for residents and businesses in central New Hampshire.

He is survived by Elizabeth (Hathaway) Barrell, his wife of 62 years; and five children, Patricia Torrey of Belfast, Richard Barrell of Gardner, Mass., Marjorie Barrell of Stoddard, N.H., Joanne Sargent of Framingham, Mass., and Catherine Chapin Salk of Providence, R.I.; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a sister, Barbara Barrell Rudd, of Seven Lakes, N.C.

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