Randall Joseph Lyden

TILTON, NH - Randall Joseph “Randy” Lyden, 78, died at the New Hampshire Veterans Home (NHVH) on February 10, 2021 in Tilton, NH after battling cancer. Formerly of Sunapee, Randy had been a resident there since October 2019.

Randy was born on November 8, 1942 in Weymouth, MA to Wilfred Alva Lyden, Sr. and Winnifred (Litchfield) Lyden.  He had five siblings: Wilfred Alva Lyden, Jr.; Phyllis (Mrs. John T. Hartry, Jr.); Warren “David” Lyden; Dennis Linwood Lyden; and Sally (Mrs. James Kynett).

He grew up and attended school in Massachusetts and enlisted in the US ARMY  in 1960 as a Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic, serving in Europe for almost 3 years before his discharge in September of 1963.  Work took Randy to New Hampshire, and two years later, he re-enlisted in the US ARMY and served his active duty in the Pacific for one year and four months as a Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic before his 1968 discharge.  Randy lived in Hillsboro, NH when he returned from his military service until he re-enlisted in 1970, this time in the US NAVY as a Motorized Vehicle Mechanic serving in Spain for about seven months before his discharge in 1972.  Serving in the military was an important part of his life, and he wore his veterans’ status proudly. Always with a ball cap on his head, it was likely one that denoted his army or navy participation.

Randy married Donna Lee Morrill at the First Baptist Church in Newport, NH on January 1st, 1972.  He and Donna made their civilian home near her family and lived in Sunapee, NH for many years. He continued his work in the areas of vehicle mechanics and spent a long stint with W. D. Matthews, servicing local companies in the NH/VT Connecticut Valley area before his retirement.

Randy and Donna had one son, Mark Joseph Lyden. They raised Mark in Sunapee, NH and supported his many athletic pursuits by watching his games, coaching, getting him to events, and treating his teammates as their own.  Mark took up his father’s passion for cars, and they built and raced small cars together leading Mark to discover his field of interest. Randy loved vintage cars, attending car shows, subscribing to auto magazines, and attending racing events. One of his greatest joys was spending time with his grandson, Mason, watching his hockey games, building a car collection, taking him fishing, and working on his tractor and bikes.

Randy was an outgoing, social person who would light up a room or the sidelines of any game being played in Sunapee or Newport. His memory was unrivaled, remembering nearly every person he had met in the service, at the many companies he serviced, in Donna’s large family, at the local eatery, or in the harbor of Lake Sunapee. He connected with people, remembered their names, and genuinely cared about their lives and loved ones. His smile was infectious and livened-up those around him, especially when he’d visit in hospitals, the County Home, and the Veterans Home. He kept up on all the local happenings starting each day with a coffee and newspaper from Coronis’ Market. While a resident at the Veterans Home, Randy took care of the planters, did some gardening, enjoyed playing cards with the other residents and fishing in the stocked pond.  He loved being out-and-about during all four of the New England seasons.

Donna pre-deceased Randy in December of 2014. He will be missed by his surviving family: his son, Mark J. Lyden and his wife Kristin L. (Jonas) Lyden and their son, Mason Randall Lyden, all of Newbury, NH. His extended family of nieces and nephews and his many friends, neighbors and caregivers will feel the loss of Randy.

Friends can pay their respects at walk-through calling hours on Saturday, February 20, 2021 from 11 AM – Noon, with a graveside service to follow at Pine Grove Cemetery, Newport, NH.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the New Hampshire Veterans Home 139 Winter Street Tilton, NH  03276.

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