Northfield, MA – Alan S. Bolton, a lifetime resident of Northfield passed away in the early morning of July 2, 2026, at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, NH.
He is the son of Horace W. and Dorothy (Pearson) Bolton, who were also lifelong residents of Northfield.
Alan received his early education at the Eaglebrook School, then graduated from Northeastern University with a B.S.M.E. in 1964.
Following college, Alan served our country in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a First Lieutenant from 1964-1966. He was honorably discharged from the Army and went on to work as a mechanical engineer for Greenfield Tap and Die, as well as Rodney Hunt Machine Co. in Orange MA. Alan then worked as the Highway Superintendent for the Town of Northfield for 3 years. After his time at the Highway department, he worked for Riveto Manufacturing Co. of Orange MA, as a General and Project Engineer. During this time, he would often spend his weekends hauling hay from New York State or Canada for the family business his father Horace ran. One of Alan’s favorite stories was the day Horace sent him on his first solo run at the ripe old age of 14 to get a load of hay out of Canada.
The road never left his blood (or maybe he watched Smokey and the Bandit too many times), so in 1982 he bought his own cabover International, fixed her up, dubbed her “The Old Girl” and proceeded to run the East Coast.
Alan was heartbrokenly predeceased by his daughter Alana (Bolton) Gadreault then wife Grace (Nichols) Bolton.
Alan is survived by his son Craig and wife Toni of Bedford, Texas, daughters Barbara Richardson and husband Jim of Royalston, MA and Virginia “Ginny” Ward and husband Wayne of Northfield, MA. Additionally, Alan is survived by 5 grandchildren, René, Jake and Jillian Gadreault as well as Aaron and Michael Richardson. Alan also has 6 great grandchildren so far. He will also be missed by his godson, Timothy Francis and many others he considered family.
We hope Alan will be remembered as a person who enjoyed having a good time. He and his wife Grace, along with their 3 Boston terriers, spent many years happily docked in Southport Marine in South Portland, Maine on their boat “Gypsy Girl”. When the sea lost its allure, they spent winters RVing in Florida along with their Boston Terriers, raising hell and riding their Harley!
We will be honoring Alan’s life and saying a final farewell on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at 1:00 in the afternoon with a graveside service with military honors at the Green River Cemetery, 56 Wisdom Way, Greenfield, Massachusetts.
In lieu of flowers please donate in Alan’s memory to the animal shelter of your choice.
Kidder Funeral Home, 1 Parker Ave, Northfield, MA 01360 is assisting the family with arrangements.
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