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Obituaries & Births
(by Staff - May 13, 2007)
Obituaries & Births
(by Staff - May 03, 2007)
Obituaries
DWINELL, STERLING, 76, of Berlin, died April 16 at Central Vermont Hospital. Sterling peacefully passed surrounded by his family. Sterling was born May 31, 1930 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. He graduated from the St. Johnsbury Trade School. Growing up he enjoyed hunting, fishing, planting and maintaining trees, and the outdoors. Along with his father and siblings, he helped construct what is now known as the Dwinell family camp in Peacham, Vermont. In his later teen years, he met the love of his life, Pauline (Lloyd). They were married on July 4, 1953. The two made and shared their home in Berlin in 1957, which is where the Dwinell family still calls home today. He worked for the Vermont Highway Department constructing the state's roadways. He was definitely a walking road atlas. As a result of an accident in 1962, Sterling was left legally blind. Sterling enjoyed spending time with his family, whether at home or at the family's camp. He eventually retired in 1990. His retirement days were spent drinking coffee under the warm sun, remodeling the Dwinell homestead and exploring Vermont's beautiful scenery. One of his favorite hobbies was fishing, but unfortunately sometimes the only catch would be a Klondike bar at the corner store.Sterling was predeceased by his parents, Edward Lee Dwinell and Masie (Adams), his loving wife Pauline and brother, Gilbert. He is survived by his sister, Connie Davis and brother, Dale; Son, Jim Dwinell and wife Terry; two daughters, Linda Conrad and her husband, Harley Ricketts and Debbie Graves and her husband, Greg, He had three grandchildren, Edward Dwinell and his wife, Jennifer, Mandy Dwinell and Ruth Jefferies; three great-grandchildren, Jared, Eliza and Paige Dwinell. Sterling will be greatly missed.
CANALES, ADELINE P., 96, of Barre, died April 9, at the Woodridge Nursing Home in Berlin, where she had been a patient for three and a half years. She was born in Barre, June 20, 1910, to Cirillo and Fortunata (Hofer) Palaoro. On June 3, 1933, she married Armando Canales. He died Feb. 9, 1959. Adeline attended Barre City schools, graduated from Spaulding High School in 1927, and the Spaulding High School teacher's training program in 1928. She had also attended Goddard College. Her teaching career began in a one-room schoolhouse in East Roxbury and the Beckley Hill School in Barre Town. When her children were in elementary school, she returned to teaching at the Washington Village School, Trow Hill School and retired from teaching at the Barre Town Elementary School. Her interests included flower gardening, doing crossword puzzles and reading. She enjoyed being a wife, mother, grandmother and teacher. Adeline's energy and positive outlook were an inspiration to her family and friends during her long life. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her siblings; her brother, Irving Palaoro, and sisters Rose Palaoro and Elizabeth Palaoro; and sister-in-law, Dorothy P. Palaoro. Survivors include her daughter, Syliva Canales of Ayers Street; her daughter, Norma Bermingham and husband, Ted, of Cabot; her granddaughter, Dr. Eden C. Bermingham and husband, Joseph Melchiorre Jr., of Georgetown, Del.; and grandson, Erin R. Bermingham of Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
CILLEY, HILDA M., 92, formerly of Tunbridge, died April 9 at the Genesis Healthcare Lafayette Center in Franconia, N.H. She was born April 28, 1914, in East Roxbury, the daughter of Clifton D. and Lillian M. (Kohl) Chatterton. She attended school in Tunbridge. In 1937 she married Sherburne E. Cilley of Tunbridge. They lived all their married life in Tunbridge and South Royalton. Mr. Cilley died Dec. 12, 1964. Mrs. Cilley moved to Boston in 1973 where she enjoyed shopping, going to plays and the opera. In 2000 she moved to Littleton, N.H., and last November she went to the Lafayette Center. She enjoyed reading, her cat and caring for her flower gardens. She is survived by a son, Sherburne "Sonny" Cilley of Royalton; a daughter, Kathleen Somerville of Littleton, N.H.; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and several cousins. She was predeceased by her husband and a daughter, Argene Hopkins.
QUILLIA, LENA A., 82, of Rochester, died April 11 at Gifford Medical Center. She was born Feb. 9, 1925, in Rochester, the daughter of Walter and Bernice (Huntington) Severy. She attended Rochester schools and graduated from Rochester High School in 1943. She worked in Rutland for a few years. She married Raymond Quillia on Oct. 27, 1946, in Rochester. They moved to Rutland in 1948 and then lived in Georgia, South Carolina, Ohio, Germany, Missouri and Seoul, S. Korea, before returning to Rochester in 1973. The last 20 winters were spent in Arizona; they traveled throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico in their R.V. for the past 22 years. She enjoyed playing shuffleboard and had won several championship trophies. She also enjoyed rug hooking and Swedish weaving. She is survived by her husband, Raymond Quillia of Rochester; two sons, Garth Quillia of Barnard and Kent Quillia of Hartford; a daughter, Lesley Straus of Rochester; a sister, Iris Bedor of Milton; four grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by two daughters, Gail and Dawn Quillia; five brothers, Cleon, Orel, Walter, Merle and Leslie Severy; and five sisters, Elma Kidder, Reba Drabble, Roxie Hathaway, Eula Harvey and Theo Edwards.
SOULE-COLLINS, ALICE, 69, of Barre, assistant vice president for administration at Union Institute (Vermont College) in Montpelier, died April 10 at Central Vermont Hospital. She was 69. Born in Barre, Feb. 22, 1938, she was the daughter of Idelmo Savoia and Esther (Tomat) Savoia. She was a member of the class of 1955 at Spaulding High School. Alice graduated from Becker College and received bachelor's and master's degrees from Goddard College. Her career spanned a variety of administrative and financial responsibilities at Goddard and Vermont Colleges and Norwich University. From 1964 to 1969 she was an administrative assistant on the staff of Gov. Philip H. Hoff. Locally, Alice was a member and vice chair of the Barre Board of School Commissioners from 1985 to 1990. She was a member of the Central Vermont Community Action Council Board of Trustees from 1986 to 1989 and was active in the Barre Opera House renovation project. Her personal interests included pottery, weaving and politics. She was an avid reader. Alice was the wife of the late William H. Soule and the widow of Benjamin M. Collins. Survivors include her mother of Heaton Woods; two daughters, Elizabeth Soule, CPA of Hartford, Conn., and Professor Sarah Soule, Ph.D. and her husband, David Geraghty, Ph.D. of Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.; two grandchildren, Sarah Gordon and Ivan Geraghty; a brother, Alfred Savoia and his wife Mari of North Platte, Neb.; an uncle, Leonard R. Tomat and his wife, Jean, of South Orleans, Mass.; an aunt, Laura Tomat of Barre; and several nieces and nephews. Alice had a wide and varied circle of family and friends who will miss her dearly.
WARREN, FRANK S., 83, of Ocala, Fla., died on April 9, with his daughter, Robin Lee Sargent, at his side. He was born in Montpelier on May 26, 1923, to Frank and Clara Warren; he graduated from Montpelier High School in 1941. He retired in 1986 as a supervisor for Travelers Insurance Co., after 20 years of service, first in Hartford, Conn., and then in Atlanta, Ga. He also retired as a master sergeant of the U.S. Army after serving over 20 years in three foreign wars, including four campaigns during World War II. He served as a Forward Observer on D-Day in Normandy, with the 29th Division of Patton's 3rd Army across France, Germany and finally in Lenz, Austria. He also served during the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post #4781 in Ocala, Fla., and Post #58 of the American Legion in Dunnellon, Fla. He was a Methodist. He was predeceased by his first wife, Doris Warren, in 1979, also by his second wife, Eileen Warren, in 2004. He is survived by his daughter, Robin Lee Sargent of Manchester, Conn.; a son-in-law; twin granddaughters; his sister Nicena Lewis of New Jersey; and many other relatives.
WELLS, JOHN DAVID, 68, of Plainfield, died at his home, High Meadows Farm, on the Middle Road, on April 10. Born Oct. 15, 1938, in Hanover, N.H., he was the son of Charles and Verna (Perry) Wells. He attended elementary and high school in Woodstock, and was a 1956 graduate of Woodstock High School, where he was a star pitcher on the baseball team. He attended Springfield College for two years and later graduated from Lyndon State College with a bachelor of science degree in education and from Johnson State College with a master's degree in 1985. Mr. Wells was a lifelong teacher and administrator; he first served as a teacher at Townshend Elementary School and later as principal at Flood Brook Union School in Londonderry, N.H., and Twinfield Elementary School in Plainfield. Most recently he was the principal at Twinfield Union School and administrator at Spaulding High School in Barre. On Dec. 19, 1992, he married Sandra Sargent Terry at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Barre. He was an avid baseball fan and had played in the minor leagues for the Atlanta Braves Baseball Organization. He played for the Canadian Provincial Baseball League and later spent many years coaching southern Vermont softball teams. His interests also included music, the New York Yankees, campfires, trips to Maine, old movies, especially "The Three Stooges," pitch and his dogs. He served for two years in the U.S. Army. Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, David Wells of Barre; a stepdaughter and a stepson, Megan and Joshua Terry; a brother, Peter Wells of Winter Park, Fla.; two grandchildren and two nephews.
SARGENT, BLENDINA CORPIERI, 93, Fairlee's oldest town-born resident, passed away quietly on March 7 at the Oasis Home in Bradford. She was born in an apartment above her parents' store at the corner of Lake Morey Road and Main Street (U.S. Route 5) on Sept. 10, 1913. Blendina's mother was Lottie Ford Corpieri, who died when Blendina was only 2 years old. Her father, Ernest Corpieri, immigrated from Italy in 1896. Blendina's parents operated a grocery store in Fairlee and, after her mother died, her father built his own store on the Lake Morey Road beside the former George and Lilla Smith's small dairy farm where Blendina was raised by the Smiths. She married Harold Ervin Sargent in 1932. He passed away in 1955 from complications with asthma and was under her care for several years. She loved animals, especially house cats and assisted in the operation of her husband's small dairy farms maintained on Terry Hill and later on Main Street in Fairlee. She loved to dance and, in her youth, won a dance contest held at the former "Casino Building" on the south end of Lake Morey. She worked for Equity Publishing of Orford for many years and later was a private LPN. In her retirement years at her Fairlee home, she continued her lifelong love of gardening and wintered in Florida with many of her close friends. She is survived by her three sons: Harold Ernest and wife Peg of Fairlee, Paul Alfred and wife Joan of Fairlee, and Benson Collins and wife Patricia of Farmington, N.M.; 13 grandchildren (two deceased); and 16 great-grandchildren.
SHELDON, ACHSA A., 90, of East Randolph, died April 13 at Mayo Health Care in Northfield. She was born on Sept. 20, 1916, in Randolph, the daughter of George and Alta (Williams) Hyde. She was raised in East Randolph, and married George W. Sheldon in Bethel on April 7, 1940. He died in 1995. She had worked at Phyles & Rice Plywood in Bethel and for many years at GW Plastics, retiring in 1978. She then worked summers at the Calvin Coolidge Historical Site in Plymouth. She was a member of the Randolph Baptist Fellowship, Middle Branch Grange, and Home Dems. She enjoyed cooking, crocheting, word search puzzles, birdwatching and flower gardening. Survivors include her son, Elliott "Buzz" Sheldon of East Randolph; two daughters, Louise Flint of North Haverill, N.H., and Marsha Wallen of East Randolph; a brother, Edward Hyde of Tunbridge; 17 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her brothers, Frank and Fred Hyde.
WILLIAMS, K. STEPHEN, 55, of Craftsbury, died April 10, at home. He was born Aug. 27, 1951, in Lowell, Mass., the son of Edgar A. and F. Virginia (Acher) Williams. He received a bachelor's of science degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Mass. Mr. Williams married Cheryl Miner on June 5, 1976, in Northfield, Mass. He worked for Riley Stoker Boiler Co. in Worcester, Mass., then for H.B. Smith Co. in Westfield, Mass., and later as plant manager of Sterling College in Craftsbury Common. He was a member of Craftsbury Fire Department and served on the board of directors and as clerk for the Craftsbury Common water company. Mr. Williams enjoyed woodworking, hunting, fishing, motorcycles, and was an avid reader. Survivors include his wife, a daughter, Katherine, and a son, Christopher, all of Craftsbury; two brothers, Robert Williams of Oxford, N.C., and Richard Williams of Westford, Mass.
BAROFSKY, KAREN E., 53, formerly of Barre, died April 12 at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, S.D., after a courageous battle with cancer. Karen E. Hurley, daughter of Cornelius and Gayle (Carpenter) Hurley was born Sept. 21, 1953, in Barre. She graduated from Spaulding High School in Barre in 1971. She went on to graduate from Trinity Bible College in Ellendale, N.D., graduating with honors in 1991 with a bachelor of arts degree in elementary teaching. On Aug. 11, 1974, Karen was united in marriage with Francis Blodgett in Barre. Francis died July 8, 2002. On July 27, 2003, Karen was united in marriage with Daniel Barofsky in Sioux Falls. She worked at CitiBank from 1994-2006. Karen was involved in missionary work in a Christian halfway house. She enjoyed gardening, cars and cats, but was very proud of her children. Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Daniel, of Sioux Falls; a son, Joshua Blodgett, of Sioux Falls; a daughter, Jessica (Wade) Barnes, of Brandon, S.D.; four grandchildren, Sara, Tessa, Douglas "DJ", Elias, all of Brandon; a brother, Kevin (Dorothy) Hurley, of Barre; a sister, Kathleen (Fredrick Mitchell) Poria, of Concorde, Vt.; a nephew, Aaron Poria, of Massachusetts; a niece, Alexis Poria, of St. Johnsbury; two great-nieces, Jasmine Pott and Emma Poria; and an aunt, Josephine Lauth, of Sioux Falls. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her first husband, Francis.
CLARK, WELLMAN "SPUD", 84, died April 12 at the Rowan Court Nursing Home in Barre. He was born in Orange on Aug. 10, 1922, the son of Herbert and Muriel (Chamberlin) Clark. He attended Barre schools. He had been married to Elizabeth Pierce. He married Ann Despault in Plainfield on Dec. 18, 1965. Mr. Clark had worked for the Barre Creamery for many years, his family farm in Plainfield, Martin's Home Center in Montpelier, Cabot Hosiery in Northfield, Northfield Schools maintenance department, and did carpentry work. He enjoyed doing craft work, country music, watching westerns, dining out, dancing and spending time with family. Survivors include his wife, Ann Clark of Northfield; six children, including twin sons, Ronald Clark of E. Calais, Donald Clark of Georgia, Debra Young of Burlington, Alex "Dina" Despault of Montpelier; Darla McDermott of Northfield, Jennifer Brown of Hawthorne, N.J.; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his daughter, Bonnie Lagerstedt; three brothers, Robert, Max, and Maurice Clark; and his sister, Marcia Martin.
GEORGE, MAUD L., 105, died April 12 at the Berlin Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was born in Northfield on Nov. 29, 1901, the daughter of George and Rose (Sears) Abbott. She attended Northfield schools. She married Stanley R. George on Dec. 24, 1924, in Barre. Mr. George died Dec. 12, 1934. Mrs. George worked many years for Vermont Hosiery & Machinery of Northfield, and Rabbit Hollow Knitting Mill of Northfield, retiring in the early 1960s. She also did quite a lot of caregiver work for Northfield families in need. She was a member of Jehovah Witnesses of Montpelier. She enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening, quilting, knitting and cooking for her family. Survivors include her two daughters, Madeline Wakefield of Northfield, and Estella Smith of LaGrange, Ga.; 15 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; 43 great-great grandchildren; two great-great-great- grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by three daughters, Carol George, Mabel Hardy DeForge, and June Hardy Freeman; one brother, William "Tip" Abbott; three sisters, Leona Abbott Bell, Mabel A. Wright, and Mildred A. Kibbey.
NADEAU, JOSEPH LEON, 76, of Barre, died April 13 at his home. He was born in Northfield, May 31, 1930, the son of Leon Joseph and Catherine (Lashua) Nadeau. He attended the Rabbit Hollow School in Northfield, Roxbury schools, and Soul School in Royalton Hill. He had been married to Thelma Lynch. In 1985 he married Ethel Cushman, she died in 1989. As a young man he owned an operated his own logging business. He later worked for 35 years for the Goodyear Tire Manufacturing Plant in Windsor. He also drove a truck for a number of years. He was a member of the Roxbury Congregational Church in Roxbury, Sons of the American Legion Post 63 in Northfield, 251 Club and the Barre Moose Club. He enjoyed dabbling in real estate, having built and sold a few camps. He was also an avid hunter and enjoyed extensive travel in the United States and Canada. Survivors include his loving companion, Mary Patterson of West Topsham; his sister, Margaret LaBarge and her husband, Kenneth of Ellenburg, N.Y.; one sister-in-law, Phyllis Nadeau of Northfield; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Richard "Bucky" Nadeau and sister, Harriet Sweet.
GOSLANT, COLLEEN L., 77, of Marshfield, died April 13 at the Woodridge Nursing Home in Berlin. Born May 15, 1929, in Plainfield, she was the daughter of William and Dorothy (Raymond) Hudson. She attended Plainfield schools and graduated from Plainfield High School in 1947. On February 16, 1948, she was married to Perley R. Goslant in Plainfield. Most of their married life had been spent there. For over 15 years, she had been a clerical worker at the National Life Insurance Company in Montpelier. She enjoyed gardening, dancing and ballroom music. Besides her husband, she is survived by her son, Daryl Goslant at home; and two daughters, LuAnn Boutin and her husband, Mark of Starksboro; and Brenda Davis and her husband, Richard of Northfield; 19 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; also five brothers, William Hudson of Calais; Reverend Bruce Hudson of Corinna, Maine; Douglas Hudson of East Calais; Daniel Hudson of Hardwick; and Ronald Raymond of Barre; and three sisters, Cynthia Wilkerson of Locust Grove, Va.; Darlene Clark of Graniteville; and Wendy Kuncz of Williamstown; and nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two sons, Kelly and Perley Goslant III, and her brother, Terry Hudson.
KILIAN, ALLIE JAMES, 57, of Barre Town, died April 15 at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington. Born on March 2, 1950, in Orange, Mass., he was the son of Allie Edward and Dorothy (Nash) Kilian. He attended Orange Elementary School and Orange High School. On Oct. 4, 1969, he married Rosemary Pryor. They spent most of their married life in Barre Town. She died on Jan. 18, 2006. In earlier years, he worked as a mechanic with his brother, Robert Kilian, at a service station in Orange before moving to Vermont in 1969, where he continued that work at Bob's Sunoco in Montpelier. He also served in the Vermont Army National Guard. For the past 27 years, he worked for Bond Auto Parts Stores and was an auto parts manager. Allie enjoyed riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, snowmobiling, camping, boating and NASCAR and Thunder Road auto racing. He worked in the pits at Thunder Road. Survivors include his son, Shawn Kilian; his daughter, Holly Kilian; and two granddaughters, Kayla and Cierra, all of Barre Town; a brother, George "Buster" Kilian and his wife, Laurel of Phillipston, Mass.; two sisters, Maxine Stoddard of Easthampton, Mass., and Marion "Betty" Dubrule and her husband, Robert, of Orange, Mass.; and nieces, nephews and cousins. A brother, Robert Kilian, predeceased him on March 15, 1976.
BOWIN, ESTHER B., 84, of Chelsea, died April 16 at her home. She was born July 21, 1922, in Tunbridge, the daughter of John and Florence (Burgess) Bicknell. She attended school in Chelsea, graduating in 1940 from Chelsea High School. She also attended the Johnson Normal School (now Johnson State College) in Johnson, where she received her three-year teaching degree. She later went back to Johnson, receiving a bachelor's degree in 1975. She first taught in Chelsea and then in Royalton for a few years. On Nov. 8, 1947, she married Guy W. Bowin. They lived in North Tunbridge before moving to their farm in Chelsea. Together they ran their poultry farm and raised their children. Guy died Dec. 26, 1973. Esther later returned to teaching. She taught several years in Vershire before returning to teach in Chelsea. She retired in 1984. She was a member of the United Church of Chelsea, serving as treasurer, Do Your Best Club of Chelsea, Vermont Retired Teachers Association, secretary of the Orange County Farm Bureau, Chelsea Grange, Past Master of Tunbridge Grange, Justin Morrill Pomona Grange, and for many years she was an auditor for the town of Chelsea. She is survived by two sons, Jerald Bowin of South Burlington and Dennis Bowin of Windsor, Conn.; three daughters, Peggy Ainsworth of South Royalton; Millie Knudsen and Gloria Bowin, both of Chelsea; eight grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was predeceased by her husband; an infant son, Irving Bowin; a brother and two sisters.
DAVENPORT, ANNE LEAH (BACON), 71, of Orange, died at her home April 13. She was born May 14, 1935, in Randolph, the daughter of Roscoe and Daisy (Underhill) Bacon. She attended schools in Burlington and was a 1953 graduate of Burlington High School. She married Francis Davenport in Montpelier on July 21, 1955, then made their home in Orange where they have lived since. In the 1970s and 1980s she served as a coordinator for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and the Area Agency on Aging. She served many years as the state director of the Senior Companion Program until her retirement in the late 1990s. She remained an advocate for the elderly for the rest of her life. She cherished spending time with her family. She was an avid reader, and enjoyed crossword puzzles, as well as shopping, music, swimming, doll collecting, sewing, baking, crafting, travel and wintering in Florida. She is survived by her husband Francis, her mother, Daisy Johnson of Wauchula, Fla.; three sons, Shannon Davenport and his wife, Cynthia of Orange, Douglas Davenport of Orange, and Michael Davenport and his wife, Karen of Barre; three daughters, Nancy Davenport of Websterville, Laura Langevin and her husband, Russell of East Montpelier, and Kaigh Thompson and her husband, Tim of Woodbury; 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; three brothers, Conrad Bacon of South Carolina, Dale Bacon of South Burlington and Gary Bacon of North Carolina; and one sister, Alice Thomas of Colchester, along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father and a sister-in-law Mary Bacon.
CLARK, DIANA, 59, of Barre, died April 16 at Central Vermont Medical Center. She was born in Barre to Gordon T. and Lydia (Hoffman) Kennett on Oct. 3, 1947. She was educated in Barre schools and was a graduate of the Vermont School of Cosmetology in Burlington. She married Edwin Clark on Dec. 11, 1964, in East Montpelier. They later divorced and he died on Jan. 30, 2007. She was self-employed as a cosmetologist until her retirement in 2003 due to disability. She was an avid bowler and participated in the senior bowling Olympics. She is survived by daughters Kimberly Gay of East Barre and Kamala Chouinard of Williamstown; son Arthur Clark of East Montpelier; six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; her mother, Lydia Kennett of Barre; brothers Everett Nelson of Belgrade, Mont., Dean Kennett of Barre and Eugene Kennett of Barre; sisters Donna Fernandez of Virginia Beach, Va., and Tina Graham of Montpelier; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her father, Gordon T. Kennett, and her sister, Dale Campbell.
PREMONT, NORBERT W., 64, of Marshfield, died April 12 at the Berlin Health and Rehabilitation Center. Born April 21, 1942, in Northfield, he was the son of Sylva and Elizabeth (Jerry) Premont. He attended Northfield schools. He was first married to Marilyn Hopkins; they later divorced. His second marriage was to Bonnie Sue Huntington and they made their home in Marshfield. She died June 26, 2002. He was a longtime employee of the maintenance and security department at the Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin. Playing horseshoes and karaoke were his special interests and he had been a member of the Vermont National Guard. He also served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1962 and had been stationed in Germany. His memberships included the Loyal Order of the Moose in Barre and St. Johnsbury; he had been an officer, a ritual team member and belonged to the Legion of the Moose. Survivors include his daughter, Lori Davis of Roxbury; and three sons, Russell Premont of Altamonte Springs, Fla.; and Jason Premont and Stewart Premont, both of Barre; and two stepdaughters, Linda Premont and Brenda Hallock, both of Barre; and 10 grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters, Mary Pape of Northfield and Eldora Deyo of Berlin; and nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by a sister, Lillian Emerson; and two brothers, Victor and Richard Premont.
ROMPREY, BERNARD T., 90, formerly of Waterbury, passed away peacefully on April 10 in San Andreas, Calif. Born in Underhill Center in 1916, he was the son of the late Edward and Lydia (Dorey) Romprey, both of Underhill. On March 6, 1965, Bernard married the former Phyllis Heath/Hoadley in Ludlow. Bernard graduated from high school and went to work as an automobile mechanic prior to enlisting in the U.S. Army, serving during WWII. A longtime resident of Waterbury, Bernard worked in night security at the Vermont State Hospital and was well known in the central Vermont area for his expertise in repairing watches and clocks, both antique and modern, a vocation he maintained for over 43 years. Bernard also owned and operated Romprey's Jewelry Store on Main Street for over 10 years. His memberships included the American Legion Post 61 of Chelsea, Disabled American Veterans Chapter Five (life member), AARP and the Waterbury Congregational Church. In his leisure time, he enjoyed traveling and collecting stamps. Bernard is survived by his wife, Phyllis; son, Wayne Romprey in Santa Clara, Utah; daughter, Linda James in Arnold, Calif.; eight grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
SUDHOFF, VIRGINIA LEE LASHER, 87, of Northfield, passed away on April 14, surrounded by her friends and family, after fighting a courageous battle with cancer for two years. Virginia was born Nov. 12, 1919, one of 15 children. She attended school in Westwood, N.J., and afterwards worked in the family automotive business. Most of her life, Virginia lived in Dumont, N.J., where she raised her children. Virginia is survived by her three sons, Timothy Schuler of Washington Township, N.J., and Paul Sudhoff and Daniel Sudhoff, both of Northfield; five granddaughters; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind one brother, William Lasher of Bergenfield, N.J. Virginia drove a school bus, "delivering precious cargo," for 25 years. She retired to Vermont in 1990. Virginia always was an animal lover and volunteered her time to the Humane Society, doing her best to protect her four-legged friends. She is leaving behind her treasured companion, "Woof-Woof" the cat, who will miss her terribly.
COVEY, LESLIE CLAYTON, 78, of Northfield, died April 15 at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. He was born in Northfield on April 9, 1929, the son of Clayton and Lettie (Miller) Covey. He attended Northfield schools. He had been married to Maida Lassell and later, Loraine Bragg. He was a veteran of the United States Army. He worked for Monroe McCandless in South Barre for seven years, the Town of Milford, N.H., and Milford Police Department for 15 years, Hitchners Manufacturing in New Hampshire for many years. He also drove a school bus for Milford New Hampshire Head Start Program, retiring in 1995. He moved to Vermont, where he was a volunteer driver for Wheels and Green Mountain Transit in Berlin. He married Pauline Beauvais Messier in Northfield on June 15, 2002. He was a member of the American Legion in Northfield and New Hampshire. He enjoyed playing guitar, hunting, automobiles, bingo, bowling and eating popcorn. Survivors include his wife, Pauline of Northfield; eight children, Lanny Covey of Williamstown, Linda Sterner of Jericho, Marla Jean Covey of Barre, Mickey Covey of Northfield, Francis Covey of Williamstown, Naomi St. Pierre of Wilton, N.H., Darcy Covey of Greenville, N.H., and Norma Morrow of Milford, N.H.; nine stepchildren, Denise Covey, Noel Cutler, Christine Bell, Diana Ashford, Sue Amell, Ray Messier Jr., Judy Wright, John Messier and Barbara Roya; one stepsister, Ruby Churchill; many, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
DOLE, LILIAH BEATRICE, 93, of Northfield, died April 17 at Mayo Healthcare with her family at her side. She was born in Northfield on July 16, 1913, the daughter of Henry and Mary (Blaine) Ferry. She is a graduate of Northfield High School, class of 1932. She married C. Paul Dole in Woodsville, N.H., on Sept. 25, 1932. Mr. Dole died Jan. 16, 1982. Liliah had been accepted to nursing school, but married her sweetheart instead. Mrs. Dole had worked for Morse's Department Store and The Economy Store, both in Northfield, and Grant's Department Store in Berlin. She was also a caregiver for many friends and family in Northfield. She was a member of the United Church of Christ in Northfield and the Order of the Eastern Star. Liliah was a very active member of her church and in community affairs. She enjoyed sewing, helping others and was always devoted to her family. Survivors include her daughter, Beverly Knox and her husband John of Northfield; two brothers, Hiram Ferry of Claremont, N.H., and Henry Ferry of Northfield; two grandchildren, Paul Knox of Northfield and Christopher Knox and his wife, Pam, of Northfield; one great-grandchild, Caden Sullivan Knox; and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by four brothers, Earl, Everett, Roger and Clarence, and one sister, Irene Cooper.
PARTRIDGE, ESTHER M., 89, of Montpelier, died at her Heaton Woods on April 16. She was born on June 13, 1917, in Montpelier to Sylvanus F. and Edna M. (Ormsbee) Morse. As a child, she spent most of her years on the family farm in East Montpelier and graduated from Montpelier Seminary in 1933. In 1941, she married Edmund Badger who died in 1953. In 1970, she married Ryland Partridge, who died in 2004. She was the manager of the lingerie department at the Homer Fitts Company for 25 years and a longtime active member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Montpelier, through which she was also a member of the United Methodist Women. Esther never had children of her own, but she loved playing the role of "second mom" to several of her nieces and nephews É and great-nephews! She enjoyed traveling, knitting, attending weekly band concerts and working the chicken pie suppers and thrift sales at her church; but the times she cherished most were spent with family, whether it was a birthday or anniversary celebration, a school event, or a Sunday afternoon barbecue. She always arrived early to help with the preparations and ne
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