2012 Obituaries

Today's Rutland Herald Obituaries

Recent deaths having some connection to Springfield, Vermont:


Russell H. McCormack, 80, of Springfield, died May 21, 2012. He was born in Springfield,the son of Ernest L. and Florence A. (Holt) McCormack. He graduated from Springfield High School in 1949 and attended Keene State College. He was employed as a cost accountant at Bryant Grinder in Springfield, a milkman with Idlenot Dairy, manager of the Springfield Sherwin Williams store for 26 years and owner/operator of McCormack Place of Color for over 15 years. Survivors include his wife June and a sister, Joyce Waite, both of Springfield; four children, Lawrence McCormack of Springfield, Laura Barrows of Corinth, Betty Losavio of North Springfield and Arlene Bailey of Amherst, Va.

Bonnie A. Lester, 61, of Springfield, died May 19, 2012. She was born and raised in Kenosha, Wis. Mrs. Lester worked from her home as a crafter and designer. Survivors include her husband Robert of Springfield.

Patricia A. Stokes, 70, of Springfield, died May 15, 2012. She was born July 29, 1941, in Hanover, N.H. She worked at Fellows Gearshaper, Ames and the Springfield Hospital. Survivors include a son, James A. Stokes of Springfield.

Katherine R. Miller, 61, of Weathersfield, died May 5, 2012. She was the daughter of Allen and Laura (Emery) Miller. She attended school in Weathersfield, and graduated from Springfield High School. Her college education included a bachelor’s degree from Castleton State College, a master’s degree from Middlebury College, and a doctorate from the University of Kent, Canterbury, England. She was employed as a teacher by the Community High School of Vermont. She also taught at Springfield High School for many years.

Janice C. Phelan, 70, of Perkinsville, died May 16, 2012. She was born and raised in Queens, N.Y. For the past 30 years, she owned and operated Gulf Pond Trees, a Christmas tree farm. She worked as a para professional in the Weathersfield school system and per diem at Springfield Hospital. [photo]

Helvi (Suojanen) Ahola, 84, of Kingston, Mass., died May 8, 2012. She was born in Springfield, Vt., the daughter of Waino I. and Milma (Lindroos) Suojanen. She was an honor graduate of Chester High School and Burbank Hospital School of Nursing in Fitchburg, Mass. Mrs. Ahola worked as a registered nurse for many years in Massachusetts. She was predeceased by seven siblings. [photo]

Milton J. “Milty” Clark, 85, of Springfield, died May 13, 2012. Born in Springfield, the son of Percy E. and Mildred M. (Goings) Clark. He graduated from Springfield High School and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He married Doris Snide in 1966. He retired after 47 years as a machinist and setup man at Jones & Lamson Machine Tool Co. in Springfield, traveling to set up and run new machines. Survivors include four children, Donna Albanese of Johnstown, N.Y., Patricia, Marilyn and Ronald Clark, and stepson Frederick Clark, all of Springfield

Jean A. St. Lawrence, 86, of Swanton, died May 10, 2012. Jean was born and raised in Bellows Falls. Survivors include her sisters Ruth Wright and Marion Fournier, both of Springfield. [photo]

Lorraine C. Young, 82, formerly of Springfield, died May 8, 2012. Born and raised in Claremont, N.H., Lorraine resided for most of her life in Springfield, spending winters in Venice, Fla., and summers in Wells, Maine, since 1990. She is survived by her husband, Francis A. Young of Venice, Fla.; two sons, William F. Young and his wife Sara of Wells, Maine, and Mark E. Young and his wife Mary of El Dorado, N.M.; one daughter, Lori Young Barlow and her husband Ken of Williston, Vt. [photo]

Donald R. Turco, 70, of Rutland, died May 2, 2012. He was born in Springfield, the son of Ross and Helen (Clokey) Turco. Donald was co-owner and operator of Turk’s Auto Body Inc. with his son John, retiring in 2007. [photo]

Robert W. “Bob” Webbe, 98, of Ossipee, N.H., died May 1, 2012. He was born and raised in New Jersey. In 1940, he and his wife Georgetta moved to Springfield where he worked at Jones and Lamson Machine Tool Co. until he retired in 1975.

Edith Fisher Hunter, 92, of Weathersfield, died April 28, 2012. Edith was a writer, historian, homesteader and a commentator on Vermont Public Radio. She and her late husband Armstrong Hunter published the Weathersfield Weekly, a local paper, from 1971 to 1986.[photo]

Helen E. Wescott, 87, died April 25, 2012. Born and raised in N.H., she was employed in the housekeeping department at Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital in Hanover, N.H., for more than 30 years. Survivors include a son, Walter Wescott of Springfield.

Richard A. Spence (Dick), age 94, of Springfield, died April 23, 2012. He was born and raised in the Lynn, Mass. area where he worked for GE for 44 years, starting with a salary of 29¢ an hour. In 1980, he and his wife moved to Springfield, building on their son's farmland here. He worked for Kelley Chrysler as a driver well into his 80s. Survivors include his son Dr. Richard J. Spence and his wife Trish of Springfield. [photo]

Arnold “Arnie” E. Howe of Taftsville, died peacefully April 19, 2012, on his 82nd birthday. He was born in Springfield, on a 500-acre farm where his parents Edward and Hazel (LaCrosse) Howe raised him. Arnie graduated from Springfield High School in 1948. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953. He spent 33 years in the active Army Reserves. He married Shirley A. Knapp in 1954, and together they moved to Shelburne, VT, for two years while Arnie attended UVM, graduating in 1956 with a B.S. in Agriculture. In July of 1956 he began his teaching career within the Woodstock School system, where he taught until his retirement in 1993. [photo]

James Harrison “Jim” Todd, 62, of Rock Hill, S.C., died April 14, 2012. Mr. Todd was born in Springfield, Vt., the son of Harrison and Louise Little Todd of Perkinsville. He was a graduate of Springfield High School, York County Technical College and Winthrop University. Mr. Todd was the owner and operator of J. H. Todd Payroll Service in Rock Hill, S.C. Survivors include a brother Michael Todd of Perkinsville. [photo]

Charlotte “Mazie” Jackman, 87, of Springfield, died April 10, 2012. She was born and raised in Rutland. Mrs. Jackman was employed as a housekeeper in Springfield homes and also worked at the Belmar Restaurant for many years.

Sandra Gosselin, 73, of Springfield, died April 14, 2012. She was born in Springfield, the daughter of George and Amy (Boyce) Balch, and attended local schools. Mrs. Gosselin was a mother and homemaker. She worked at Vermont Research and Miltope in Springfield for many years. Survivors include two siblings, Kenneth Balch and Shirley Lambert, both of Springfield.

Kathleen M. Rose, 58, of Cavendish, died April 12, 2012. She was born in Springfield, the daughter of the late Everett and Rose Jolley. Kathy graduated from the Green Mountain Union High School and was employed the past few years at LaValley’s in Ludlow.[photo]

Rachel E. McCarthy, 83, of North Springfield, died April 8, 2012. She was born and raised in Massachusetts. Mrs. McCarthy was an avid bowler and a member of Springfield Plaza Bowling League, Springfield Bowling Hall of Fame and State of Vermont Bowling Hall of Fame. She was a volunteer cook for the Green Mountain Softball League. She also enjoyed volunteering and attending Adult Day in Springfield. Survivors include two sons, Mike McCarthy of Chester and John McCarthy Sr. of Springfield.

Phyllis J. Legac, 79, of Ballston Spa, N.Y., died April 5, 2012. She was born in Springfield, the daughter of Harvey and Dorothy (Herrick) Barr. She received her schooling in Springfield and graduated from Springfield High School. Survivors include a son in Baltimore, Vt., Jeffery Currie.

Raymond N. Streeter, 100, formerly of Springfield, died April 6, 2012. He was born in Springfield, the son of Harry L. and Lena C. (Nevins) Streeter. He graduated from Springfield High School co-operative course in 1929. Mr. Streeter was employed at Jones and Lamson Machine Tool Company in Springfield. After serving his apprenticeship he operated many different machines and held various positions in Time Study and Process Engineering. He was promoted to manager of manufacturing in 1953, and retired from that position in 1976 after 50 years of service. Mr. Streeter was one of the founding members of the Crown Point Country Club, and chairman of the Springfield Home Show. [photo]

Raymond A. Ellis, 85, of Weathersfield, died April 3, 2012. Born in Connecticut, Ray moved to Vermont in 1957. In 1960 Ray, his wife Eleanor and son Walter completely renovated the Avon Theatre in downtown Springfield. The Ellis Theatre was owned and operated by them for the next forty-four years.

Sharon Ann (Ferguson) Keefe, 55, of Rutland, died April 4, 2012. Sharon worked for Grand Union for 30 years, most of them in Springfield, prior to moving back to Rutland in 2004. Survivors include her parents, Raymond and Ruth (Peterson) Ferguson, her sons, Shawn Keefe, Ryan Keefe and his fiancée Bethany Cass and his daughter Lillyaunna, all of Springfield. [photo]

Richard F. Jennings, 83, of Springfield, died April 1, 2012. He was born in Somerville, Mass. grew up in Nashua, N.H. Survivors include his wife, Annette Colburn Jennings; three children, Christina, Stanley and David. [photo]

Nelson “Hop” Douglas, 85, of North Springfield, died March 29, 2012. Born in Manchester, Vt., He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He was employed by Mack Molding in Arlington, Vt., and Springfield Plumbing and Heating where he retired after more than 30 years. He is survived by his wife, Nellie (Baker) Douglas, whom he married in 1949 in Springfield; two daughters, Dianne (Thomas) Baird and Denise (Gary) Chase.

Fred M. Mathews, 74, of North Springfield, died Monday, March 26, 2012. Born and raised in New Bedford, Mass., Fred earned a BS degree in psychology at Southeastern Mass. Univiversity. In his early years he worked in live stage acting, directing and film production. He and his wife moved to North Springfield in 1996 where he was employed by Vocational Rehabilitation as a job search advisor. Survivors include his wife Barbara.

Aune M. Currie, 90, of Springfield, died March 29, 2012. Born and raised in Andover, she and her husband Robert lived in Springfield for many years. She was employed as a secretary at Bryant Grinder Corporation and later at Riverside Middle School in Springfield, and also worked as a one-on-one tutor. Survivors include two sons, Steven A. Currie of Rutland, and Stuart A. Currie of Chester; a daughter, the Rev. Susan C. Church of Springfield.

Mary Agatha Pluta Robinson, 89, of Springfield, died March 27, 2012. Born and raised in Ludlow, she graduated as a registered nurse in 1945 from Worcester (Mass.) City Hospital. Mrs. Robinson was employed at Springfield Hospital until retiring in 1988.

Betty Pierce Bishop, 86, of Newport, died on March 22, 2012. Betty graduated from Middlebury High School in 1943 and then entered nurses’ training at Rutland Hospital. She worked at the Mary Fletcher and Springfield hospitals and later at Bel-Aire Nursing Home in Newport, Vt. [photo]

Dorothy S. Putnam, 90, of Mansfield, Mass., died Friday, March 23, 2012. She was born in Springfield, the daughter of Milton and Julia (Burton) Slater. She attended Springfield schools and graduated from Springfield High School as class valedictorian in 1939. She graduated from Deaconess Nursing School in Boston, Mass., and entered the U.S. Army, serving as an Army nurse during World War II. Mrs. Putnam lived most of her adult life in Massachusetts.

Marjory E. Putnam, 99, of Chester, died March 20, 2012.
Marjory worked for 30 years at Springfield Hospital until her retirement in 1989.

Robert Calvin Farrar Jr., 66, of Ludlow, died March 20, 2012. He was born on March 2, 1946, in Springfield, the son of Robert C. and Margaret (Briggs) Farrar Sr. He had been employed as a farmer and logger for many years prior to becoming employed by Charles Shackleton Furniture. Survivors include two sons, Robert Farrar and his fiancée Ashlee of Rutland and Travis Farrar of Springfield; and his mother, Margaret of Springfield.

Mathew D. Sheehan, 90, of Cavendish, died March 9, 2012. Mr. Sheehan retired in 1983 from Jones and Lamson Machine Tool Co. (J&L) in Springfield. After retirement, he was a night watchman there. In earlier years, he worked on the railroad and later at Lovejoy Precision Cutting Tools. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Margaret “Peg” Sheehan; three children, Stephen and Audrey Fletcher, both of Springfield, and Rae Andrews of Brattleboro.

Marion A. Baker, 79, of Springfield, died March 8, 2012. Born in South Woodbury, Vt., the daughter of Amelia and Henry Lilley. She attended schools in South Woodbury and Springfield, and graduated in 1951. She is survived by her husband, Ronnie; her children, Ronald (Carri) of Bethel, Bruce(Gail) of Bellows Falls, and Karen Beardsley of Springfield.

Beatrice Prior Towsley of North Port, Fla, died March 6, 2012. Bea was born in Springfield. In 1977 Bea earned her LPN license from New Haven Technical College and was employed at RRMC in the pediatric care unit. In 1987 she received her real estate license and worked for Coldwell Banker Real Estate. She moved to North Port, FL, in 1996.

Agnes B. Crosier, 88, died March 4, 2012. She was born in North Springfield, the daughter of Clarence and Beatrice (Whitcomb) Bryant. She graduated from Springfield High School in 1941 and from Gifford Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Randolph in 1945. Mrs. Crosier worked at Springfield Hospital. Survivors include her husband Bernard Crosier of North Springfield; four children, Candice Fortier of Richford, Wayne Crosier of Plattsburgh, N.Y., Ernest Crosier of Chester and Lon Crosier of Woodbridge, Va. [photo]

Judith Arlene “Jude, Judy” Nelson, 66, of Sheffield, Mass., died on February 7, 2012. She was born in Springfield, Vt., the daughter of James and Ruth Nelson. Judith was tremendously talented and professionally accomplished as an artist. She specialized in the illustration and design of children's books, greeting cards and product packaging. Click here to view examples.

Grace Louise Stevens Rice, age 88, died on March 1, 2012. She graduated Springfield High School in 1941, then entered Mary Fletcher School of Nursing in Burlington. After graduation, she moved back to Springfield and worked at Springfield Hospital in the operating room. After several years, she became a school nurse in the Springfield School District. Later she joined the Visiting Nurses where she worked until she retired. [photo]

Gertrude Dorothy Harris, 84, of Windsor, died March 1, 2012. She was born in Springfield, the daughter of Harold Raymond and Mildred Dorothy (Clogston) Harris. She graduated from Springfield High School in 1946. Ms. Harris spent several years working on the Westney Farm in Springfield. She was later employed at the Roger Putnam farm in Springfield. She was a volunteer for Springfield Area Adult Day Care.

Jerry Wayne Rock, 49, of Springfield, died Saturday, February 25, 2012. Born in Oklahoma, he moved to Springfield in 1980. Survivors include several family members in the Mid-West and his best friend, Martin Bursque of Springfield. [photo]

Raymond J. Nymalm, 87, of Springfield, died February 15, 2012. Born and raised in Oregon, he graduated from New York University. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was employed as a teacher in Chester and Ludlow for several years. He was a former commander with the VFW, a member of the Masonic Lodge and a volunteer with the Springfield Meals on Wheels program.

Henry L. Hood, M.D., 90, of Exeter, N.H., died Saturday, February 18, 2012. Dr. Hood was born in Springfield, Vermont, the son of Roxie L. (Page) and Paul Kendall Hood, Sr. His family eventually settled in and around Laconia, N.H. A graduate of Cornell Medical College, he began a career in neurosurgery in 1957. In 1974, he was named President of Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Penn. where he served as C.E.O. until his retirement in 1991.

Nicki D. Farren, 47, of Springfield, died February 23, 2012. She was born in Westfield, Mass., the daughter of Edward E. and Sandra (Schach) Wilson. She graduated from Springfield High School, class of 1982. She was employed as a supervisor with Mack Molding in Cavendish, where she had been employed for the past 30 years. She was also employed part-time with the Rockingham Veterinary Clinic in Rockingham for several years. Survivors include a daughter, Lyndsay Ayer of Mount Holly; her father, Edward Wilson, and stepmother, Ruth Wilson, of Baltimore; her devoted companion, Donald Gurney Jr. of Springfield.

Marjorie H. “Mardy” Hinkley, 85, of Springfield, died February 22, 2012. Mrs. Hinkley was employed as switchboard operator at Fellows Gear Shaper in Springfield for many years. She also worked as an Avon and a Stanley Home Products representative for several years. Survivors include her husband George A. “Joe” Hinkley and a son, Douglas Hinkley, both of Springfield. [photo]

Harry N. Streeter, 71, of Rutland, died February 21, 2012. He was born in Springfield, the son of Raymond and Elsie (Putnam) Streeter. He was in the class of 1958 in Springfield High School and also attended Northeastern University in Boston. He worked for Fellows Gear Shaper in Springfield following high school and again, after military service in the U.S.Army. He later was owner/operator of Streeter’s TV and Audio Service in Springfield and of Beardsley TV in Rutland. Survivors include his wife, Lynne (Shand) of Rutland; two daughters, Sara Streeter of Weathersfield and Betsy Kelly of Williamstown.[photo]

John F. Hinds, 86, of Springfield, died February 18, 2012. He graduated from Springfield High School in 1944 while serving in the Navy during World War II aboard the USS Pasadena in the Pacific. After discharge, he received a mechanical engineering degree in 1951 from the University of Vermont. Mr. Hinds was a sales engineer with Jones & Lamson working out of the Chicago and Lexington, Mass., office; an engineer at Hamel Dahl in Warwick, R.I.; at Waterbury Farrell out of the Jones & Lamson plant. Survivors include three children, Scott and Kathleen Hinds, both of Springfield, and Sherry Goings of Weathersfield. [photo]

Beverly E. Harris, 82, of Walpole, N.H., died February 19, 2012. She was born in Claremont N.H., the daughter of Floyd and Miriam (Haskell) Young. She was a graduate of Springfield High School. Mrs. Harris worked for Jones and Lamson in Springfield. Survivors include her husband, Harold Edmund Harris of Walpole; two children, Dennis Harris of Vernon, Vt., and Dianne Fontaine of North Springfield, Vt. of a brother, Kenneth Young of Weathersfield, Vt.

Edward John Carleton, age 63, of Brandon, died February 16, 2012. Ed was born in Springfield on February 16, 1949. He was the son of Michael and Jessie (Johnson) Carleton. Ed had worked as a machinist for General Electric for many years, retiring in 2009. He served honorably in the United States Army, as a medical corpsman.[photo]

Brian Patrick Templeton, 66, of Springfield, died February 16, 2012. He was born in Springfield, the son of Edward L. and Josephine (Avicolli) Templeton. He graduated from Springfield High School in 1963. Mr. Templeton served in the U.S. Air Force from 1963 to 1967. He was employed as a police officer with the Charlestown, N.H., Police Department, Springfield Police Department and Sullivan County Sherriff’s Department in Claremont, N.H., retiring in 2007. Survivors include two sisters, Margaret Smith and Virginia LaBonte, both of Springfield.

Bradford W. Coyle, 58, of Springfield, died Dec. 31, 2011. He was born in Springfield, the son of Wallace and Doris (LaRue) Coyle. He was a graduate of Springfield High School and he served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Mr. Coyle was employed as a machinist at Fellows Gear Shaper in Springfield for many years. Survivors include two daughters, Cynthia and Samantha Coyle of Chester.

Ralph E. Jordan, of East Greenwich, RI., died on January 31, 2012. Rev. Jordan was pastor of the Advent Christian Church in North Springfield from 1963 to 1970.

Elsie E. Butler, of Venice, Fla., died on February 4, 2012. Mrs. Butler was a graduate of Mary Hitchcock Hospital in Hanover, N.H. She was also a graduate of the Harvard Medical School in physical therapy. She and her husband William made their home in Springfield, Vt., as well as Killington, Vt.

Gary A. Gosselin, 59, of Claremont, N.H., died Tuesday, February 7, 2012. He was born in Springfield, the son of Leonard and Constance (Snide) Gosselin and had been a lifetime area resident. Gary was a self-employed construction worker. Survivors include three brothers, Dick Gosselin, Springfield, VT; Bob Gosselin, Charlestown, N.H.; Ron Gosselin, Springfield, VT; two sisters, Judy Rumrill, Proctorsville, VT; Debbie Madigan, Wheeling, IL.

Katherine Lynch Herrick, 94, of Springfield, died February 6, 2012. She graduated from Springfield High School and Keene (N.H.) State College. Mrs. Herrick taught school in New Hampshire, Vermont and Connecticut. [photo]

Arthur R. "Bud" Ballard, 90, of North Springfield, died February 5, 2012. He was employed as a heat treat engineering technician at Fellows Gear Shaper for 32 years, retiring in 1983. Survivors include his wife Marion of North Springfield; a daughter, Brenda Streeter of Snowflake, Ariz.

Euleta Veysey, 68, of Port Orange, Fla., died December 29, 2011. She was born in Springfield, Vt., the daughter of Wilmot “Bill” and Arlene Gould Veysey. She graduated from Springfield High School in 1961. She moved to Hartford, Conn., and worked as a supervisor at The Hartford Insurance Co., where she was employed for almost 20 years. After moving back to Springfield she took a job at the State of Vermont Department of Labor and Industry until retiring in 2006. Survivors include an aunt, Olavene Haas of Springfield.

Margo L. Rose, 66, of Springfield, died January 31, 2012. She worked as a paralegal in California, New Hampshire and Vermont. She was employed with Green Mountain Economic Development Group and for the past eight years, as a secretary with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Cardiology Department. Survivors include her husband Paul and her mother, Elizabeth Condos, both of Springfield; five siblings, including Linda Roodman of North Springfield.

Aurore Renaud Menard, 100, of Springfield, died January 29, 2012. Mrs. Menard was a member of St. Mary’s parish and choir, Catholic Daughters of America, and a founding member of St. Mary’s Altar Society. She was active at the Senior Center and named Springfield Senior Citizen of the Year in 1994. Survivors include five children and her caregiver Denis Menard. [photo]

Rosemarie A. Ratti, 64, of Springfield, died January 28, 2012. Mrs. Ratti worked at the Springfield Town Library, beginning as a library aide in 1986 and retired as the children’s librarian in 2005. In earlier years, she was employed at Salomon Brothers and Bowker Publishers in New York, as secretary to the Bellows Falls Union High School principal and with the State of Vermont Department of Employment. Survivors include her husband, Jon Ratti of Springfield. [photo]

Geneva V. Clough Burke, 89, of Springfield, died January 28, 2012. Mrs. Burke worked for many years in Springfield at Britts Department Store, later known as Ames Department Store, retiring in 1987. She is survived by six children, including Brian Clough of Springfield.

Gladys M. Childs, 96, of Clearwater, FL, died January 26, 2012. She married Melvin A. Childs of Springfield in 1937, and lived in Springfield until 1962, when they then moved to Rutland. Survivors include 3 daughters, Patricia Mitchell and her husband William A. Mitchell, and Elizabeth Phelps and her husband Charles Phelps, all of Springfield, VT, and Virginia Markle of Palm Harbor, Fla.

Hazel C. Gorsky, 92, of Springfield, died Tuesday, January 24, 2012. She was employed as a housekeeper for several families in the Springfield area. She worked in the cafeteria at Springfield High School for many years, and the cafeteria at the Fellows Gear Shaper. She was named Springfield’s Senior of the Year in 2001, and received the Community People Award in 2002. Survivors include a son, William P. Gorsky of Chester and a daughter, Rosalie Ovitt of Reading.

Leroy C. Underwood, 80, of The Villages, Fla., and formerly of Springfield, died January 12, 2012. He was born in Springfield, the son of Clark and Ina (Kangas) Underwood, and graduated from Springfield High School in 1949 with a Journeyman Machinist license through the Jones and Lamson machine shop. He worked for Vermont Research Corp. and co-founded the Purchasing Association of Vermont. He and his wife founded Precision Contract Manufacturing in 1994. He founded the Springfield Flying Club. Survivors include his wife Dorothy; stepdaughter Karen Campbell of Brattleboro; stepson Brian Dana of Springfield.

Ralph R. Rogstad, 72, of Weathersfield, died January 25, 2012. He was born in Springfield, the son of Osmond and Elida (Dotterud) Rogstad. He was employed as a machinist at Bryant Grinder Corp. and Fellows Gear Shaper in Springfield for many years. Survivors include a son, Christopher Rogstad of Weathersfield; a daughter, Erika Rogstad of Springfield; a brother, Ingwald Rogstad of North Springfield.

Gertrude F. Bean, 89, of Kingsport, Tenn., and formerly of Springfield, died January 21, 2012. She is survived by six children including Robert Bean of Baltimore, George Bean of Springfield.

Jesse L. Watkins, 97, of Charlestown, N.H., and formerly of Springfield, died January 15, 2012. Mr. Watkins worked as an auto body mechanic in the local Chevrolet and Plymouth Chrysler garage, retiring in 1980. He and John Curtin later planned and built the former Springfield Mobile Home Estates. Survivors include his wife Rosemary; a son, Richard Watkins of Rockingham.[photo]

Jean Anne Johnson, 86, of Chester, died January 21, 2012. Mrs. Johnson was employed as a machinist at Bryant Grinder Corp. and Fellows Gear Shaper in Springfield during the war years. She was a mother and homemaker and after her husband died, she was employed at Servomation in North Springfield for several years. Survivors include three children, Gary Johnson, Theresa Stewart and Cynthia Hall, all of Chester.

Elva J. Ackley, 72, of Ellisburg, N.Y., died January 17, 2012. Elva was born in Walpole, N.H., a daughter to Addison and Elizabeth Perry Kendall. She graduated from high school in Springfield, VT. Elva married Robert Ackley in 1957, in Springfield. The couple owned and operated a dairy farm on Ellisburg for many years. Mrs. Ackley worked for the United States Postal Service for 18 years retiring in 2009. Survivors include her husband, five daughters, her sister Lora (Wayne) Wheelock, three brothers, Harrison Kendall, Jason Kendall , Orson Kendall, all of Baltimore, VT.
[photo]

Harold G. “Buster” Warner, Jr., 77, of Londonderry, died January 18, 2012. He was born in Chester, the son of Harold G. and Margaret J. (Eddy) Warner, and was a graduate of Springfield High School. Mr. Warner owned and operated Harold “Buster” Warner Excavation for many years, retiring in 1999. Survivors include step-son, Ricky Quimby of Springfield.

Kerry A. Stapleton, 69, of Perkinsville, died January 15, 2012. Kerry was born in Springfield, the son of the late Robert E. Stapleton and Lyla (Slade) Stapleton. Kerry graduated from Springfield High School in 1960. Kerry's past employers include Bryant Grinder, Town of Weathersfield as road foreman, and Jones and Lamson. Survivors include his three children, daughter Barbara Ingalls and her husband Jeffrey of Perkinsville, daughter Susan (Stapleton) Shumski and her husband Michael of Springfield, Raymond Stapleton and wife Lisa (Roberts) of Perkinsville and his soul mate, Kay Ryan of Springfield. [photo]

Madeline E. Rogers Parker Quimby, 75, of Weathersfield, died January 14, 2012. Survivors include five children, Catherine Bosworth, of Charlestown, N.H., Frank Parker, of Lebanon, N.H., William Parker, of Springfield, Susan Pringle, of Port Orchard, Wash., and Ray Parker, of Unity, N.H.

Alexander "Alex" Greer Jr., 71, of Springfield, died January 13, 2012. He graduated in 1958 from Springfield High School, where he was enrolled in the Co-op Machine Tool Course, and worked at the Fellows Gear Shaper. Mr. Greer retired in 2002 after 30-plus years' employment at Lovejoy Tool Co. in Springfield. He was also the cross-country coach in Springfield for 11 years. Survivors include his wife, Barbara (Kelly) Greer of Springfield.

Ryan J. Williams, 23, formerly of Westminster West, died January 10, 2012. He was born in Springfield, VT, the son of Roy and Tresa (Farnsworth) Williams. He was employed as an assistant manager with Walgreens Pharmacy. [photo]

Stella M. Ahern, 87, of Springfield, died January 8, 2012. She was born in Springfield, the daughter of Carl and Mary (Delgirno) Moore. She graduated from Springfield High School at the top of her class in 1943. Mrs. Ahern worked in payroll at Jones and Lamson Machine Tool Co. in Springfield and retired in 1983 after 40 years of service. Survivors include a brother-in-law, Gordon Marcotte, and caregivers, Scott and Dee Richardson, all of Springfield.

Tammi Jean DeZaine Klunder, 47, of Springfield, died on Jan. 7, 2012. Mrs. Klunder was a homemaker and enjoyed the country. Survivors include her husband, Steven Klunder; her father Frederick DeZaine; three brothers, Fred and Michael DeZaine, and Gary Prouty; four sisters, Crystal and Michelle DeZaine, Sharon McDonough and Haley Batchelder [photo]

Paul L. Sylvia, 68, of Ocala, Fla., died January 2, 2012. Born in Hartford, Conn., he graduated from Springfield High School in 1961 and served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Scott Martin Turco, 46, of Mount Holly, died January 9, 2012. He was born March 25, 1965, in Springfield, the son of Daniel and Shirley (Martin) Turco. Mr. Turco was employed as a service technician with the family business, Dan Turco and Sons Yamaha in North Clarendon.

Miriam Abrahamovich, 83, of Springfield, died December 16, 2011. She was born November 24, 1928, in Springfield, Vt., the daughter of Guy O. and Ellen (Davis) Wescott. She attended Springfield schools and graduated from Springfield High School class of 1946. Miriam was employed as executive secretary at the Fellows Gear Shaper, the Hartness House Inn and at Springfield Local Telephone Co. as executive secretary.

Phyllis F. Burns, 91, formerly of Springfield, died Jan. 5, 2012.

Marion W. Grout, 91, of Springfield, died January 5, 2012. She was employed at the Springfield Hospital as a receptionist and darkroom technician in the radiology department for 24 years, retiring in 1982.
Survivors include three daughters, Beverly Clark of Perkinsville, Yvonne McNeil of Springfield, and Brenda Waysville of Grafton. [photo]

Kenneth Carroll Baker, 99, of North Springfield, January 2, 2012. Ken grew up in the Granville, N.Y.-Pawlet, VT, area. He started working at Idlenot Dairy in North Springfield in 1942 as their first employee as a route driver delivering milk. He later worked as the dairy foreman and stayed until his retirement. He is survived by his son, Ronald Baker, and wife Marion, and his daughter, Carol Koledo, and her husband Fred, all of Springfield.



2011 Obituaries