LYNDEBOROUGH – There are people who are dedicated to the service of their towns. James “Bud” McEntee was one of those. He died on Dec. 14 after a long illness. He was 91.

Bud served as town moderator from 1983 to 1997, and is best known for those meetings, how he opened each session with a joke or a story. They were always funny, appropriate to the occasion, but would not, by today’s standards, always be politically correct.

“He was always big on civics,” Selectman Fred Douglas said. “Presiding at a meeting, he was always calm, pleasant and polite, but he kept control of the meeting, usually with his humor. He ran a professional, spirited forum. He was an icon of the town, a person you could count on.”

Former Selectman Rob Rogers said of him, “I’ve been here long enough to have known some of the Old Guard, those who accepted this town as a responsibility. Bud was certainly one of them.”

James McEntee was born in Milford in 1930, the son John and Bridget McEntee, and graduated from Milford High School in 1948. He attended Wentworth Institute in Boston to study construction management. His father owned a masonry company and he joined him until he took over the company. It is now run by his son Tim. Over the years, he worked on a lot of the town’s old fireplaces and chimneys.

In 1954, Bud married Margaret (Peg) Bullard and moved to Lyndeborough about 60 years ago. They had twin sons, Tim and Tom.

His sister-in-law, Polly Brown, noting that they lived across the street from each other, said, “and we got along so good, and did a lot together.”

She recalled some of his connections with the town.

In 1949, Bud, his father and brother, built the new fire station on Route 31. He was always a staunch supporter of the fire department.

He was the last president of the Lyndeborough Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which was established in 1862 following a disastrous fire. It ended in 1989 when the state declared it “too small to exist.” Bud had a low opinion of that ruling.

He was a member of the Bicentennial Celebration Committee in 1976. He drove his 1944 Ford convertible in the parade with Rep. James Cleveland as a passenger.

He was one of the first directors of the Wilton-Lyndeborough Ambulance and Rescue Association, working closely with founder Betty Stevens, an association he maintained.

He was a member of the first board of the Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District, seeing the district through a series of lawsuits, and helped with the design and building of the new high school in 1970-71.

He helped with the building of new sign in front of the Central School.

He was part of the committee that filled the time capsule that was buried by the town hall in 1976, which was later dug up, repaired and reburied.

“He really loved this town,” Brown said. “And he was always happy to help anyone who needed it.”

Heritage Commission Member Stephanie Roper added, “He dedicated his life to Lyndeborough and its people. Everyone who knew him respected him for his integrity. With his wit he could get everyone to work together. He was a masterful Moderator, fair and impartial, and with a bit of humor when it was appropriate.”

Ralph Dwire, a close friend for over 50 years, said, “He did so much for all of us. We’ll be missing a pretty wonderful person.”

Bud was a faithful communicant of St. Patrick Church in Milford, and a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus. He was, Fred Douglas said, “Irish and proud of it.”

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Patrick’s on Dec. 18. Burial will be in the spring.

Donations in his memory can be made to the charity of one’s choice.