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Obits & Births
Obituaries
BLODGETT, PEARL F. (EDWARDS), 93, of Ware, Mass., and previously of Berlin, passed away May 8 in West Brookfield, Mass. She was involved in a serious motor vehicle accident on Sept 12, 1977, which took the life of her husband Vilus Blodgett. They had been married for 46 years at the time of his passing. She leaves her sons, Vilus Jr. and Wayne in Florida and Floyd in Vermont; her daughters, Laura Garceau and her husband Henry, with whom she made her home in Ware, and Ethel Blodgett in Florida; her brothers, Elmer Edwards in Vermont, Ivan Edwards in Massachusetts and Fay Edwards in Colorado; her sister, Violet Skonieczny in Massachusetts; as well as 28 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. She also leaves many nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by a son Nelson, a daughter Faith, her brothers Royal, Conrad, Max and Earl as well as a sister, Irene Brevleri. She was born in Waterbury, the daughter of Floyd and Ethel (Douglas) Edwards and had lived in Ware for 30 years before coming from Haverhill, N.H. She was a communicant of All Saints Church and the former Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. She was a member of the Hedding Methodist Church in Barre, the Rebekah Lodge, and the Mirror Lake Grange of Berlin.
FARNHAM, LLOYD EDWIN, 70, of Williamstown, passed away peacefully May 10 at his home, surrounded by the love of his family. He was born in Washington on May 3, 1937, to the late Orrin and Bertha (Hutchinson) Farnham. Lloyd attended both Graniteville and Williamstown schools. In 1950 his family moved to Williamstown, where they operated a small farm. On Aug. 21, 1959, he married Patricia Ann Reed of Chelsea. They moved to the family farm in Williamstown in 1962. He worked for many area stone sheds over the years as a sandblaster and served the town of Williamstown in many roles, serving as justice of the peace from 1986 until the time of his death, as town agent from 1986 to 1991, on the Planning Commission from 1984 to 1992, and as a select board member from 1994 to 2005. On Oct. 6, 2001, he was presented with the Vermont Public Service Award for his years of service to Williamstown. He was truly a man whose best interest was in the support and improvement of his community. He had a great love of the outdoors, especially farming. He farmed his entire life along with his wife, his children, and later his grandchildren. He loved to spend time at his camp with family and friends, to be "on the hill," and was especially proud of his fish in the pond. He enjoyed the many family meals and gatherings surrounded by the laughter and love of his family. He is survived by his wife, Patricia of 47 years and their four children: Martha Stromme and her husband, Jan of Winooski, Linda Kitchen of Medford, Ore., Edwin Farnham of Williamstown, and Amy Molinario and her husband, Bob of Williamstown. He was blessed with seven grandchildren, Michael Stromme of Winooski, Edwin, James, Nicholas and Brittany Farnham of Williamstown, and Bobby and Haleigh Molinario of Williamstown. He is also survived by his brother, Sherwood Farnham of Warrenton, Mo., and two sisters, Marie Eaton of Williamstown and Marilyn Gagne of Barre, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by a brother, Paul Farnham, and by a son-in-law, Timothy Kitchen.
FONTANA, LILY N., 91, of Barre City, died May 10 at the Woodridge Nursing Home. Born in Barre on Dec. 30, 1915, she was the daughter of the late Achille and Giulia (Perrero) Fontana. She attended Barre City schools and graduated from Spaulding High School in 1933. After her schooling she was employed at several Barre businesses: Green Mountain Power Corp. for 10 years; as a bookkeeper for Johnson and Gustafson, J.O. Bilodeau Co., Johnson Gustafson Sand Blast, Bilodau-Barre, and Marcel LaRochelle Sand Blast Co., until her retirement in 1997. She was a member of St. Monica Catholic Church in Barre, Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, Barre Senior Citizens Club and National Council of Senior Citizens. Survivors include cousins in Montpelier, California and Italy.
LUPIEN, RAYMOND, 60, of Center Hill, Fla., and formerly of Websterville, died in a car crash on May 8. Mr. Lupien is survived by his son, Robert Lupien; daughters, Barbara Strickland and Raphael Stancell; and two grandsons, Daulton Strickland and Clay Stancell. He was predeceased by his parents, Paul and Adrienne Lupien; one sister, Linda Rentz; and one daughter, Kristy Muniz.
WOODMANSEE, HORACE SAMUEL, JR, 81, of Waterbury Center, passed away at the VA Hospital in White River Jct. on May 10. He was born in Hardwick on Feb. 7, 1926, to Horace and Flora Belle (Loverin) Woodmansee. He leaves his wife of 60 years Elizabeth (Graves) Woodmansee and his beloved family: his sons, Larry Woodmansee and his wife Bonnie of Fairfax, Va.; Tony Woodmansee and his wife Lora of Seattle, Wash; his daughters, Diana Davis and her companion Dennis Hayden of Barton; Tammy Thompson and her husband Mark of Waterbury Center; and Penny Dodson and her husband William of Colchester; his treasured grandchildren, Jeffrey, Gregory, Tamzen, Anissa, Erica, Ian, James, Dylan, Justin and Logan; and great-grandchildren, Alexander, Troy, Andrew, Caitlin, Gregory, Reliance, Tristian, Stefan and Zoe. He also leaves three sisters, Irene Place, Verna Tatro and Charlotte Whitten; one brother, Bernard Woodmansee; his brother-in-law Robert Graves and his wife Jessie; and many adored nephews and nieces. He served in World War II European Theater assigned to the Rainbow Division, 42nd Inf. Div., 242 Regiment. He served with the troops who first liberated Dachau, unlocking the gate and giving any food, supplies to the prisoners, before pushing on in pursuit of the fleeing German forces. He received the Purple Heart in a hospital in LeMans, France. He also received two Bronze Stars, The Battle of the Bulge medal and his favorite, the Combat Infantry Man's Badge. He was an honor guard for General Eisenhower in Munich, Germany, at the conclusion of the war. He graduated from the National Hardwood Inspector School in Memphis Tenn., and was employed as a hardwood lumber inspector. He retired in 1991 from Bear Paw Lumber Co. in Fryeburg, Maine. He was a lifelong Yankees fan despite attempts by his grandsons to convert him to that "other team." He enjoyed time spent with a good book, family and friends.
MACK, ANNIE THERESA "TETA", 76, formerly of Barre, died May 9 at Hospice of the Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio, after a battle with cancer. Born March 26, 1931, she was the daughter of John and Agnes (Carey) Smith. She was a 1949 graduate of Spaulding High School. She married Robert Mack on Aug. 4, 1950, in Graniteville. Following their marriage they made their home in Burlington, several communities in Michigan, Chicago, Ill., and since 1974 in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. In earlier years she had worked at an insurance company in Barre. She enjoyed dancing, swimming, boating and entertaining her grandchildren. She had been a member of St. Monica Catholic Church in Barre and more recently St. Peter's Catholic Church in North Ridgeville, Ohio. She is survived by her daughter, Carol Heilman and her husband Carl of Bay Village, Ohio, and her son James Mack and his wife, Sandy, of Grand Haven Michigan. Also surviving are six grandchildren: Christopher, Kelly and Meaghan Heilman and Kristen, Carrie and Alicia Mack. Also surviving are two sisters: Patricia Gendron and her husband, Leo, of Beverly Hills, Fla., and Maureen O'Brien of Southington, Conn., and many nieces and nephews. Besides her parents she is predeceased by her sister Joan Smith and her brother John "Jackie" Smith.
WALBRIDGE, FRANCES ELSIE, 75, of Cabot, died May 7 at her residence following a courageous battle with cancer. She was born Nov. 7, 1931, in Greensboro, the daughter of the late Everett O. and Mary (Lyford) Walbridge. She graduated from Cabot High School in the class of 1949. In her earlier years she was employed by the town of Cabot as assistant town clerk. She later worked at the Cabot Creamery for more than 40 years. She retired in Jan. 2007 due to failing health. Frances was a deaconess at the United Church of Cabot and held office on the Christian Education Board. She was also a deaconess at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Berlin. Frances was also a member of several organizations including the Green Mountain Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in Cabot for more than 50 years, where she held several positions. She was a 10-year member of the Cabot Selectboard and treasurer for the Cabot Credit Union. For more than 50 years she enjoyed co-chairing the Cabot Fourth of July barbecue. Other enjoyments included watching the birds and spending time with her great-grand nieces and nephews. Survivors include two sisters: Aileen Byers and Linda Walbridge, both of Cabot; eight grand nieces and nephews; as well as several great grand nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Gerald Walbridge, in 2002.
LAMPHERE, MARJORIE LOUISE (PILLSBURY), 72, of Montpelier, passed away at Central Vermont Medical Center on May 11. Born in Woodsville, N. H., May 7, 1935, she was the daughter of George Robert and Velma Geraldine (Campbell) Pillsbury. She lived in Groton until 1943 when her family moved to Montpelier. She graduated from Montpelier High School in 1953 and from Vermont (Junior) College in 1955. She worked for the Vermont Department of Education and then for MELPAR, Inc., a research firm in Boston. In 1974 she began working at National Life Insurance Company in Montpelier and retired from there in 1997. On Sept. 1, 1956, Marge married Robert I. Lamphere in Montpelier. They were divorced in 1974. She enjoyed cooking, reading, politics, community theater and loved spending time with her beloved family. She also had a wonderful circle of friends and cared deeply for each one. Survivors include daughter Leigh Ann Lamphere and her husband, Brian C. Allaire, of Morrisville, daughter Lisa Lamphere Cappello and her husband, Mark J. Cappello, of Ithaca, N.Y., son Bradley R. Lamphere and his wife, Janice H. Lamphere, of Essex Jct.; six grandchildren: Nathan and Phillip Lamphere Allaire, Elizabeth and Anna Lise Cappello, Kelsey and Eric Lamphere; aunt Elsie Campbell Caldwell of Perth-Andover, New Brunswick, Canada; cousin Judith P. Hebert of Berlin; many cousins in Canada including Marilyn Colwell of Ottawa, Ontario, Robert Caldwell of Fredricton, New Brunswick, Marge Seel of Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba and Themla Kelsey of Choiceland, Saskatchewan, Canada; and her dearest friends, Elaine and Tex LaRosa, Norma and Bob McLeod, Jackie Mitchell, Beverly Gaboriault, Janice Hill, Lois Boemig and Patricia Miller. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Montpelier.
BUDBILL, GENE, 40, of North Montpelier, died unexpectedly at his home May 7. He was born in Burlington on May 4, 1967, and came to live with his parents, David Budbill and Lois Eby, in 1973, when he was 6 years old. He struggled with the dual diagnosis of mental illness and addiction. Some years ago he enjoyed working with elders at Out & About, the adult day program in Morrisville. More recently, he volunteered at the Good Samaritan Haven in Barre. He was on the board of Good Samaritan. He is survived by his parents, David Budbill and Lois Eby, of Wolcott; and by his sister, Nadine Budbill of California.
JARVIS, BEVERLY MAE, 68, formerly of Northfield, died May 11 at the Canton Potsdam Hospital in Potsdam, N.Y. She was born in Northfield on March 6, 1939, the daughter of William and Helen Amell. She attended Northfield schools. She had been married to James Jarvis. She owned and operated the Countryside Inn in Hopkinton, N.Y., from 1973 to 1987 and worked for Hills Company in Massena, N.Y., from 1990 to 2001. She enjoyed tending her rose bushes, dancing, NASCAR racing and Busch Lite beer. Survivors include her companion of 38 years, Warren Wheeler Sr. of Potsdam, N.Y.; four children, James Jarvis Jr. of Highland Village, Texas; Deseree Grenon of Derry, N.H.; Regina Jarvis of Potsdam, N.Y.; and Warren Wheeler Jr. of Fort Collins, Colo.; seven siblings, Lewis "Tinker" Amell, Arthur Amell, Michael Amell and Evelyn Premont, all of Northfield; Harvey Amell and Mary Martin, both of Northfield Falls; and Phyllis Beauchemin of Brookfield; four granddaughers; one great-granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, William "Sonny" Amell, and a sister, Anita Amell.
JOHNSON, LARRY WEST, 75, a former longtime Barre, resident, died May 11 at his home in Blairsville, Ga. Born on Jan., 23, 1932, in Phoenix, he was the son of E. Herbert and Winona Mae (Griffith) Johnson. After moving to Barre with his family, he attended Lincoln Elementary School and graduated from Spaulding H. S. in 1949. He graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in business management in 1957, and did post-graduate work at the Illinois Institute of Technology. From September of 1950 to July of 1952, he served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict with the 172nd Regiment, 43rd Division. On Aug. 17, 1952, he married Constance A. Folsom in the United Methodist Church in Northfield. They made their home in Massachusetts and Indiana, before moving to Barre. In 2005, they moved to Blairsville, Ga. In earlier years, Larry was employed as an industrial engineer at International Harvester, Rand McNally and Wallace Press. In Barre, he was self-employed as owner and operator of Johnson's Bakery. Later, he became the bakery manager at Howard's Market in South Barre. Larry was a 39-year member of the Barre Congregational Church where he served as deacon, a Sunday school teacher and church auditor. In Barre, he was active in American Legion Post 10 and the VFW Mackenzie-Webster Post 790. He provided and served military honor guards at many Vermont veterans' funerals. Larry was always an active member of his community, serving as a Barre City alderman, on the Barre City Board of Civil Authority, a former Barre City GOP chairman and a Washington Co. GOP delegate. He was a member of the Barre Granite Lodge 35 and the F & AM Masons. He volunteered for the Salvation Army advisory board, as a reading mentor, Meals-On-Wheels, Central Vermont Adult Basic Education, local public access CVTV, and produced programs for CVTV. Larry was honored as an Outstanding Citizen of Greater Barre in 2002. Larry enjoyed reading, traveling, current events and especially spending time with his family. Survivors include his wife, Constance Johnson of Blairsville, Ga.; six children, Russell Kendall Johnson and his wife, Deborah, of Decatur, Ga.; Lauren Jeanne Johnson and her husband, Ronald Bisson, of Walden; Erika Leigh McGilley and her husband, Donald, of Rockport, Maine; Kerrick Lance Johnson and his wife, Mary Ann, of Barre; R. Winona Johnson and her companion, Paul Tasetano, of Williamstown; and Marilyn "Peggy" Johnson and her companion, Jonathan Wheeler, of Barre; an "adopted" son and daughter, Anwar and Sabina Shaik; 19 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two brothers, Herbert Johnson and his wife, Bertha, of Woodbury, and Richard K. Johnson and his wife, Judith, of Barre; a sister, Marilyn M. Matte of Hernando, Fla.; a sister-in-law, Carmen Johnson of Johnson City, Tenn.; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Reynold O. Johnson, and a brother-in-law, Julian A. Matte.
PERRY, KENNETH G., 82, of Bradford and formerly of Waits River, died May 15 at his home, surrounded by his family. He was born in Barre on May 10, 1925, the son of Gordon and Odvin (Audette) Perry. He attended schools in East Barre. He was employed for many years at the Dixie Bobbin Company of Barre. On Nov. 14, 1945, in Barre, he was married to Berdina Mae Tillotson who predeceased him on July 2, 2000. He enjoyed fishing, playing cards and dancing. Mr. Perry was a lifelong member of the Waits River Church. He is survived by one daughter, Rosemary Peters of Bath, N.H.; one son, Rodney Perry of Bradford; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one sister, Marjorie Flint of Parker, Colo. He was predeceased by one sister, Stella Trombley, and one brother, Dean Perry.
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