Harold "Skip" R. Plaisted III, of Templeton, died unexpectedly on Monday, July 6, 2026, his 81st birthday, at Heywood Hospital in Gardner after being stricken ill at home.

Born in Needham on July 6, 1945, he was the son of the late Harold R. Plaisted II and Adele (Hartwich) Plaisted. He graduated from Newton North High School with the Class of 1963 and continued his education at Franklin Technical School and Wentworth Tech. Harold later earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and his master's degree in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University. He was employed by Raytheon for more than 40 years as an electrical engineer until his retirement.

Harold loved spending time outdoors, where he felt most at home. Whether tending to his gardens, cutting trees, walking through the woods, or enjoying his favorite pastime of blueberry picking, he found peace and contentment in nature. He also enjoyed woodworking and tinkering around the house, always keeping busy with a new project. Above all, Harold's greatest joy was his family, especially his cherished grandchildren. He rarely missed one of their sporting events and treasured every opportunity to spend time with them. The memories, laughter, and special moments they shared together were among the greatest blessings of his life.

Harold is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Dale M. (Jordan) Plaisted of Templeton; a son, Scott R. Plaisted of Templeton; a daughter, Jill M. Iannacone and her husband, Joe, of Templeton; three grandchildren, Amanda, Courtney, and Shannon Iannacone; a sister, Dawn Mae O'Halloran of Mashpee; nieces and nephews, Michael Jordan, Christine Tomassello, Meggan Schenk, Bryan Bovitz, Kate Srinivasan, Holly O'Halloran, and Bonnie O'Halloran; and several cousins.

He was predeceased by three sons, Brad Plaisted, Todd Plaisted, and Garrett Plaisted; and a nephew, John "JJ" Bovitz.

A visitation will be held on Monday, July 13, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Nichols Street, Gardner. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home. Burial will be held at Pine Grove Cemetery, Patriots Road, Templeton.
The family has requested that those attending the services come as they are. Skip was never a flashy man and would have wanted everyone to feel comfortable, so casual attire is welcomed.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284, or online at www.heart.org. Please reference gifts in memory of Harold R. Plaisted III.