William A. Hazen, Sr., 87, passed away June 17, 2016 after a brief illness.

Born on August 2, 1928 in Manchester, NH, he moved to Merrimack in 1951 when he married Ruth (Upham).

He built his own home in 1958, where he and Ruth raised their three sons. He and Ruth had been married for 42 years before her death in 1993. Bill served in the United States Army as an MP from 1951 to 1953. He then began a 43-year career with Holmes Transportation as a tractor-trailer driver.

Bill and Ruth were passionate about horses and active in several New Hampshire organizations over the years, including the Granite State Appaloosa Association, the N.H. Horse and Trail Association, and the Bedford Riding Club.

While living in Manchester, Bill was a member of the Merrimack Street Baptist Church before joining the St. James United Methodist Church in Merrimack, where he remained a faithful member.

William is survived by his three sons, William Hazen, Jr., of Amherst, Charles Hazen of Merrimack, and Richard Hazen of Merrimack; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Visiting hours will be held Thursday, June 23 from 5 to 8 PM at George R. Rivet Funeral Home, 425 Daniel Webster Highway, Merrimack. He will be laid to rest with a private family service.

To sign an online guestbook, please visit rivetfuneralhome.com.