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DEWEY, C. WALTER
DEWEY, C. WALTER, passed away quietly on September 21, after a brief illness. C. Walter Dewey was born in Brookfield, August 28, 1917. His parents were Frank S. and Mary (Howard) Dewey. He attended the one-room schoolhouse on West Street, Randolph High School and graduated from Vermont State Agricultural School (now VTC) in 1937, where he excelled in track. After graduation, he briefly worked on a farm in Billerica, Mass., where he practiced all that he had learned in Aggie School. Following the destruction and devastation of the 1938 hurricane, he worked for the federal government repairing and rebuilding homes up and down the East Coast. Shortly before being inducted into the Army in April of 1941, he married Ramona J. Allen of Randolph. While serving in World War II, he fought in Germany, Belgium and France. He survived the hell of landing on Omaha Beach and went on to fight throughout the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of '44-'45. Returning home from Europe, he worked for the newly formed Vermont State Police, Macphail's lumber mill, Hall Brothers Construction Co. and Vermont Structural Steel (in Burlington). In the mid-'60s, he formed his own company and built many new houses in and around Randolph, as well as renovating several old houses. He built the last two houses in which he lived. After early retirement, he was still in demand for his craft. He often commented that if he knew he was going to live so long, he would have waited until full retirement age to retire! Walter was active in his community serving as village trustee, town selectman and on various boards with local financial institutions. He also was a member of the NRA, Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, the American Legion and the VFW. He belonged to the Vt. Gas and Steam Engine Assoc. and enjoyed participating in their shows. In his younger years, Walt (as he preferred to be called) lived for hunting, be it rabbit, bird, deer or caribou. In his later years, he enjoyed barbecues, playing cards and sugaring. When snowmobiles came into vogue, he bought one and loved being out on winter days. Four-wheeling was also a favorite activity, as was working on his woodpile. He loved living in Vermont and was always expanding his daughters' knowledge of the local geography. Some Sundays found the family, complete with both sets of grandparents, in a Jeep on logging or old roads scouting out old cellar holes on mountain tops. Other days found him driving the family to destinations such as the marble quarries in Proctor or the toll road on Mount Mansfield. Walt was proud of the fact that he and his wife of 60 years had sent all five of their daughters on to higher education, regardless of the number of times they had to re-mortgage their home. He married Mary Hutchinson in September 2001. He enjoyed her zest for life, the many senior citizen trips they went on and her many family gatherings. They enjoyed activities such as biking, snowmobiling, four-wheeling and playing golf. He is survived by his wife of 10 years, Mary; his brother, David Dewey; daughters, Phyllis Kadlub of South Royalton, Pauline Barnes and husband Ronald of Randolph, Priscilla Larocque of Tunbridge, Pamela Levasseur and husband Rob of Jericho and Patricia Dewey and partner John Foster of East Thetford; as well as stepchildren, Mark Hutchinson and wife Nancy of Randolph Center, Gary Hutchinson and wife Melissa of Bridport and Marla Tillberg and husband Joel of Randolph. He has eight grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren, as well as several nieces and nephews. C. Walter was predeceased by his parents; a brother, Howard; his sisters, Laura and Helen; and his first wife. A celebration of his life, with full military honors, will take place at the Veteran's Cemetery Chapel in Randolph Center, Vt., on October 7 at 1pm. A gathering will follow at the Langevin House at VTC.
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