Alexander “Gordon” Price, 87, a lifetime resident of Boxford, passed quietly at home, in the loving presence of his family, on Wednesday, Oct. 31. He was the beloved husband of Susan (Manley) Price, whom he met while attending UMass and would be celebrating their 64th year of marriage this Nov. 26.
Born in Haverhill on Feb. 13, 1931, he was the son of the late Alexander Johnson Price and the late Rosamond (Ingalls) Price-Gowen. After graduating from Governor Dummer Academy in Byfield, he went on to receive a degree in Geology from Texas A&M University.
In addition to his wife, Susan, he is also survived by his four children: Alexander Price and wife Kimberly of Suffield Conn., Martha Price Blackburn and husband William May Jr. of Brunswick, Maine, Thomas Price and wife Sheila of Boxford and, Catherine Price Rogers and husband Stephen Rogers of Bradford, his 15 grandchildren: Tyler Blackburn, Kyle Rogers, Hannah Knudsen and husband Marcus, Corey Price, Hillary Rogers, Taylor Price, Hunter Rogers, Alexander (AJ) Price, Tucker Price, Ashley Price, Mikaela Rogers, Seth McLaughlin, Justin Price, Joshua McLaughlin, and Alyssa McLaughlin. Price is also survived by his only sister, Anne Myers and husband David of Denver, Colo., and sister-in-law, Martha Wood of Venice, Fla.
After graduating from Texas A&M University, Price spent the next two years serving in the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Munich, Germany with his new bride Susan. After his enlistment ended, the couple returned home to run Ingaldsby Farm in West Boxford, originally started by his mother Rosamond in 1934. The land was purchased by Price’s grandfather, Walter Ingalls, in the early 1900’s. Price expanded the farm to raise over 200 acres of corn, green beans and strawberries. He hired many local high school and college aged students throughout the years to help harvest the crops.
Price had a great love for the town of Boxford and served on various committees, including the recreation and school committees, assessor’s department, planning board and the Ingalls Memorial – Boxford Document Center. Over the years, both Price and his mother have donated land development rights in Boxford to help maintain its rural character.
He was also active in other organizations and served many years as president of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau, director on the Boxford Historic Document Center, Luster-On Products, Farm Family Insurance Company and Massachusetts Department of Agriculture.
With wife Susan always at his side, Price had many interests, whether it was socializing with friends over coffee, exploring the islands of Casco Bay on his boat or skiing with the grandchildren in North Conway. He also enjoyed traveling with his sister and husband, always looking for a hotel room overlooking a train station so he could watch them come and go.
He will be remembered most for the special interest he took in his children and grandchildren’s lives; taking them along on trips, attending school activities, discussing our interests and giving advice, whether we liked it or not.
Price wanted to live to 100, but in the almost 88 years of his life, he set a wonderful example for all of us to follow and we will miss him very much.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. at the Second Congregational Church, 173 Washington St., West Boxford. Private burial will take place at Mount Vernon Cemetery in Boxford. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Boxford Historical Document Center PO Box 122, West Boxford, MA 01885.