Obituary of Paul R. Ketcham

Paul R. Ketcham, Sr. 89, of Freehold passed away on Sunday, November 16, 2014 at Monmouth Crossing Assisted Living Community Center, Freehold Township. He was born on his family’s farm on Willow Brook Road in Freehold Township to Oscar and Jennie Ketcham, Sr. and was a lifelong resident of Freehold. The Ketcham Farm was one of the top potato farms at the time and was featured in the American Journal of Potato Research in 1947 for a record potato yield. His family sold part of their farm in 1957 to the 3M Company. He was a farmer until his marriage in 1949 to the former Harriet Groth. He then worked with Roland Parenteau, a home improvement contractor in Freehold Township, as a mechanic for Roberson’s, Freehold and as a mechanic for Freehold Cartage before his retirement in 1997. He was predeceased by his wife, Harriet in 2006 and brothers, Oscar, Jr., Eugene, and Albert Ketcham. He is survived by his sons, Paul, Jr. and wife Penny and David and wife Diane, Freehold; a daughter Patti Dill and husband Charles, Freehold Township; his grandchildren, Christina Dill Gehman, Carly Dill Schultz, Michelle Ketcham, Scott Dill, Jenelle Ketcham, Dana Ketcham Mazzeo, and Patrick Ketcham; and his great grandchildren, Brandon and Garrett Schultz, Ava and Olivia Gehman, Cameron and Travis Mazzeo, and Avery and Charlotte Dill. Visiting will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Tuesday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. followed by interment at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad, 18 Spring Street, Freehold, NJ 07728. The family would like to thank the staff of the Monmouth Crossing for their care and devotion to their father. Visiting will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Tuesday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. followed by interment at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold.