HAMPTON — Paul M. Lamson, long a fixture in the New Hampshire business community, peacefully passed away on October 31, 2011 in his Boynton Beach, Fla. home surrounded by family and friends.

Born in Worcester, Mass., May 16, 1924. he was raised in Windham, one of five children of John and Helen (Mason) Lamson.

He attended the Searle School, a one room school house, and later Woodbury High in Salem.

He enlisted in the Army Air Force at the height of World War II, Stationed in England as a crew member on a B-17. He flew 17 missions over Germany. His survival during that deadly air campaign instilled a fearlessness that never left him.

Returning to Windham he was elected to the board of selectmen and began his career as a builder.

In the early 50's Paul and his wife Althea moved to Hampton where he was involved in real estate, construction and development. He built many of the early motels along the New Hampshire seacoast; the Sand, the Drift, the Wave and the Dunes. Always a canny speculator, he purchased wetlands and wood lots that became ideal settings for commercial and industrial uses. The two State Liquor Stores along Route 95 and the transmission towers for the Seabrook Power Plant all sit on land acquired from Paul.

He raised his three children in Hampton, kept and raced a number of trotting horses, flew his own plane and expanded his business.

In 1986 Paul married Bonnie Bowen. They went to England, commissioned a 34 foot sailing catamaran which they eventfully sailed along the French, Spanish, and Portuguese coastlines, across the Atlantic through the Caribbean to Florida, where they settled because Paul only wanted to live where you can wear shorts in the winter. His later years were spent playing tennis, sailing and tending to business.

He is survived by his loving wife, Bonnie, of Boynton Beach and Dover; three children, Paul Jr. of Boynton Beach, Jean Fritz and her husband John of Newmarket and Richard of Boynton Beach; and one grandchild, Michael Fritz of Newmarket.

Memorial services will be held May 16, 2012, (his birthday) in Windham Presbyterian Church, 1 Church Road, Windham.