Milestones

Obituaries

• Barbara Alexander, 64, of Londonderry. Died Feb. 20 of cancer. Wife of the late Ray Howard Alexander for nearly 45 years. Mother of Nicole Alexander of Londonderry and the late Scott Alexander. Born in Harrisburg, Pa., the daughter of the late Edward and Bernice Weibley. She and her husband moved to Londonderry in 1979, and she embraced the seasonal Vermont lifestyle and community. She served so many years on the Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad, she was honored with a rare, lifetime membership. She enjoyed many wonderful years teaching beginners to ski at Bromley Mountain and working at some of the area's finest restaurants, including the Chantecleer in Manchester. She also helped to launch and build Jake's as one of Londonderry's only family dining establishments. She was always a loving caregiver, moving to North Carolina for two years to be with her own declining mother, before coming back to Londonderry and working for the last two decades as a provider of at-home health care for the area elderly. Her greatest enjoyment in life was her family, and she also enjoyed friends, gardening, reading and many of life's pleasures. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at the Second Congregational Church in Londonderry, with a reception to follow at Jake's Restaurant and Tavern on Route 100. Donations to the Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad, 6068 Route 100, Londonderry, VT 05148; or Grace Cottage Foundation, P.O. Box 1, Townshend, VT 05353.

• Marcia R. Buckingham, 62, of Bellows Falls. Died March 15 at her home. Wife of Steve Buckingham for 17 years. Mother of Arthur Godfrey IV and Stephanie Eastman, both of Springfield, Vt., and Jennifer Sherman of Fort Myers, Fla. Stepmother of Sonja Alves of Boston. Sister of Jim Beebe of Springfield, Jesse Beebe of Andover and Larry Beebe of San Antonio, Texas, Alicia Coppola of Windsor, Judy Graham of Perkinsville, and Renée Nagel of Unity, N.H. Born in Springfield, the daughter of Jack and Joyce (Eastman) Beebe. She graduated from Springfield High School in 1968, from Thompson School of Nursing with her LPN in 1978, and from New Hampshire Technical College with her ADN in 1988. She was employed at Springfield Hospital for many years, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center for several years and, for the past 20 years, in psychiatric nursing with the Windham Center in Bellows Falls. She enjoyed singing and attending church. Memorial information: A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 21, at the Davis Memorial Chapel in Springfield, where friends may call at 1 p.m. prior to the service officiated by Jesse Beebe. Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery in Springfield. Donations to Norris Cotton Cancer Center, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03766.

• John F. Drew, 53, of Greenfield, Mass. Died March 8 at home. Father of Matthew Drew of Saxtons River and Amanda Emerson and her husband, Christopher, of Charlestown, N.H. Brother of Mark Drew of Bernardston, Mass., Mary Jane Raymond and her hus­band Michael of Bernardston, Martha Walker of Bernardston, Jacqueline Gaines and her husband, Robert, of Guilford, Carol Drew Killay and her husband, Robert, of Guilford, Joan Bitters and her husband, Paul, of Greenfield, and the late Norma Jean Drew. Born in Bernardston, the son of Norman and Eileen (Coogan) Drew, he was a graduate of Pioneer Valley Regional School, Class of 1977. He was a mechanic at Bill's Shell Station in Greenfield. He enjoyed carpentry and built his own home in Guilford. He was a self-­taught pianist, and loved spending time oil painting, fishing, and taking na­ture walks. He also enjoyed spending time at Hampton and Salisbury beaches, camping at state parks, and skiing. Memorial information: Services will be private and burial at the convenience of the family. Donations to ServiceNet, 55 Federal St, Suite 150, Greenfield, MA 01301.

• Elton M. Foster, 84, of Putney. Died March 13 at his home. Husband of Dorothy (Doyle) Foster for 34 years. Father of Donna Foster of Hinsdale, N.H., and Darlene Wisell and her husband, Timothy, of Brattle­boro. Stepfather of Charles Cleveland and his wife, Sue, of Dal­las, Ore.; Deborah Monaney and her husband, Edward, of Greenfield, Mass.; and Mary Stephens of Hins­dale, N.H. Predeceased by siblings Willie, Randolph, Wendell, and Newton Foster, and Orabelle Chase, Norma Lovely, Gloria Griffith and Mildred Foster. Born in Plainfield, Vt., the son of the late Augustus and Inez (Savory) Foster, he had been a Putney resident since 1995, previously residing in Guilford. He served in the Army in Germany dur­ing the Korean Conflict. He worked as a janitor for G.S. Precision for 14 years before his retirement in 2000. He enjoyed collecting stamps and coins, reading history books, watching western movies, fishing, dancing, bowling, and was an avid Red Sox and Celtics fan. He was a life member of VFW Carl M. Dessaint Post 1034 in Brattleboro, and a member of the American Legion and Eagles. Memorial information: A funeral service was held March 18 at Ker-Westerlund Funeral Home in Brattleboro, with burial in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Putney. Donations to Rescue Inc., 541 Canal St Brattleboro, VT 05301 or BAYADA Hospice 23 Marl­boro Rd #101, Brattleboro, VT 05301. Condolences may be offered at www.kerwesterlund.com.

• Amelia Hancock, 51, of Brattleboro. Died March 10 at Pine Heights in Brattleboro. Daughter of Robert and the late Maureen Hancock. Stepdaughter of Laura Hancock. Sister of Charlie Hancock and his wife, Alice LaPierre, of Berkeley, Calif.; Elizabeth Ungerleider and her husband, John, of Brattleboro; and Bob Hancock and his wife, Chris Terry, of Newfane. Stepsister of Karen and her spouse, Sue Brandt, of Stamford, Conn., and Paul Lambros of Long Beach, Calif. Also survived by her beloved nephews Jacob and Isaiah Ungerleider and her close friends and companions, Kaiilama Morris and Tim Mayo. Born in Los Angeles, she grew up in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. She attended the Academy of Art College in San Francisco, and moved to Brattleboro in 1992. Although handicapped by a traumatic brain injury and subsequent hemiplegia, she was a talented artist who could often be found drawing in one of Brattleboro's coffee shops or at the many lectures, concerts, and plays she regularly attended. Her love of books and literature led her to volunteer at the Brooks Memorial Library, where she will be lovingly remembered. Memorial information: A memorial service is planned at a later date and will be announced. Donations to Brooks Memorial Library, River Gallery Art School, or the New England Youth Theatre.

• David Howard, 82, of Newfane. Died Feb. 23 of a heart attack at his home. Although he had no siblings, he had many cousins and friends who were devoted to him. Born in New York City, the son of painter Jane Berlandia and noted architect Henry T. Howard, his family moved to San Francisco shortly after his birth. He lived there until 1947, when the family moved back to New York. He attended the Town School for Boys in San Francisco, where he re­ceived a number of awards, and the Arnold School in Massachu­setts. He had a creative mind, and was gifted with his hands. These qualities, along with an excellent sense of workmanship, contribut­ed to the many building projects he participated in throughout his life. He had a knack for fixing things and making them better. In recent deca­des, he lived in Newfane, where he was treated essentially as a Mandell family member. He helped them immensely over the years while he was assisted in kind by them. He was also a volunteer with the NewBrook Fire Department. His extended family and friends de­lighted in his sense of humor and joie de vivre. Memorial information: A me­morial service will be held at the NewBrook Firehouse in Newfane on April 7 at 1 p.m. Donations to the NewBrook Fire Department, P.O. Box 77, Newfane, VT 05345.

• Elizabeth “Betty” Kendrick Merrill, 94, of Brat­tleboro. Died March 8 at Pine Heights Nurs­ing Home. Wife of Frank H. Merrill for 71 years. Mother of Eric Merrill and his wife, Susan, of Stafford, Va.; David Merrill and his wife, Lin­da, of Old Orchard Beach, Maine; and Elaine Flood and her husband, Bill, of Greer, S.C. Sister of the late Fred Merrill Jr., her twin, and predeceased by siblings Jaenne, Stephen, Patricia, and Elaine. Born in Hinsdale, N.H., the daughter of the late Lorna Langton and Fred Davis Kendrick, she grew up in Hinsdale and graduated from Hinsdale High School in 1938, and from Bay Path Institute in 1941. She worked for Barrows Coal Co., John Hancock Life Insurance, Brad­ley Labs, and Central Vermont Public Service. She retired from CVPS after 28 years of service and had risen to supervisor of the Brattleboro main office. She married in 1942, just before her husband left to serve in the Navy in World War II. When he returned from the war, they made their home on Putney Road and lived there for many years. She was very active and a life member of the Brattleboro Wom­en's Evening Club, and held dif­ferent positions in the club over many years. She also was a member of the American Legion Post 5 Auxiliary. She was an excellent candlepin bowler and bowled with the Women's Evening Club Lea­gue. She was an extremely caring and generous person who will be missed by all those who knew her. Memorial information: A me­morial service will be held at a later date. Donations to Rescue Inc., or Meals on Wheels in Brattleboro or Grace Cottage Hos­pital in Townshend.

• Juanita Neathawk, 88, of Athens. Died March 10 at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend. Wife of Charles W. Neathawk. Mother of William J. Neathawk and wife, Shirley, of Newfane, Roger D. Neathawk and wife, Cindy, of Langdon, N.H., and the late Charles D. and Edward I. Neathawk. Sister of the late Walfreda Knight and Jo­hanna McDermott. Born in Lexington, Mass., the daughter of David and Evelyn Karlson of Athens, she married Charles W. Neathawk in 1943. She lived most of her life in Athens, and resided the last few years at Riverview Apart­ments in Bellows Falls where she made many friends. She worked at Robinson Paper Mill in Bellows Falls, APW Paperworks in Brattleboro, and retired from Hubbard Farms in Walpole, N.H., in 1990. She loved NAS­CAR, gardening, and country mu­sic. Memorial information: Services will be private. Donations to Grace Cottage Foundation, P.O. Box 1, Townshend, VT 05353.

• Jo Ann Dodge Perkins, 80, of Rutland. Died March 8 at the Rutland Regional Medical Center following a long illness, three days short of her 81st birthday. Wife of Edward C. Perkins for more than 60 years. Mother of Martha Jo Perkins of Rutland, David D. Perkins of Centreville, Va., and Amy Beth Perkins Moore of Yorktown, Va. The daughter of the late Pauline Gallup Dodge and Warren “Dick” Dodge, she attended elementary school in Burlington and later in Jeffersonville while her father served in the military during World War II. Following the war, she attended high school in Johnson and graduated salutatorian in 1950. She then went on to attend Becker Junior College. After marriage, the Perkinses moved to Fort Benning, Ga., and Fort Campbell, Ky. She returned to Vermont and lived in Johnson while her husband was in Korea. They went on to live in Morrisville, Brattleboro, and Rutland. She enjoyed a lifelong passion for music. She had an excellent voice and sang publicly on many occasions in her younger years. She was an active choir member at Centre Congregational Church in Brattleboro. She was a skilled seamstress and had advanced knitting skills and also made clothes for her children, grandchildren and wedding gowns for her relatives. She was an active member of the Maple Leaf Quilters in Rutland. When her children were in elementary school, she was active in the PTA and served as a room mother. For 12 years, Jo Ann worked as the receptionist in the Brattleboro Area Middle School. She actively supported her children's activities, whether acting, musicals, or sports. Memorial information: A celebration of her life was held March 11 at Grace Congregational Church in Rutland. Donations may be made to the Foley Cancer Center at Rutland Regional Medical Center, 160 Allen St., Rutland, VT 05701; or Regional Ambulance Service, 275 Stratton Road, Rutland, VT 05701.

• Mary-Louise Patnode, 84, of Brattleboro. Died March 11 at Thompson House. Wife of the late Russell Patnode for 53 years. Mother of Brenda, Nancy, Brad, and Lisa. Sister of Joan Coppinger. Born in Provi­dence, R.I., the daughter of the late Leroy and Harriette (Hurtado) Lundblad, she grew up in Cranston. She was a cheerleader at Cranston High, loved dancing to the Big Bands and took art lessons at RISD. She be­longed to Edgewood Yacht Club and happily set sail into Narra­gansett Bay with friends. In 1948, she graduated with an art degree from Vermont Col­lege in Montpelier. Although she'd planned to become a stew­ardess, she got a temp job as re­ceptionist for the newly-formed Vermont State Police. When she met a young trooper named Russell, her life changed forev­er. They married in 1950 and, af­ter living in Morrisville and Rut­land, they moved to Brattleboro in 1955. A perfect day for Lou was going to the shore at Quonochontaug, R.I., for clamcakes or lobster rolls. She loved being on the go - driving to Wilson's, taking a boat to Ha­waii, flying to Europe, or going by rail to the Canadian Pacific. She was a Welcome Wagon host­ess; and played in a bridge club for 50 years with friends she treasured. She excelled at crossword puzzles, loved bus trips, and visiting her family. After her husband died in 2003, she found happi­ness playing bridge, swimming with pool friends, and talking to her great neighbors. Memorial information: Donations to Thompson House Nurse's Wish List, 80 Maple St., Brattle­boro, VT 05301.

• Arthur Albert Torrey, 94, of Brattleboro. Died March 13 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Husband of the late Constance Duncan Torrey for 54 years. Father of William “Bill” Torrey of Brattleboro and the late Robert Torrey. Brother of the late Marie Gouger, Shirley Torrey, Gertrude Stratton, and Charlotte Cabral. Born in Berlin, N.H., the son of the late Herman A. and Katherine (Hawkins) Torrey, he has been resident of the area since 1925. He attended Kurn Hattin Homes until 1934, later attending Brattleboro High School, where his education was interrupted with the outbreak of World War II. He enlisted in the Vermont National Guard, where he served his country until his honorable discharge from active service in 1945. He had worked as projectionist at the former Paramount Theater on Main Street for 26 years and also part-time when needed at the Latchis Theatre, as well as at the drive-in theater on Putney Road. He had also been employed at the former Vermont Print, Art Wilson's Garage on Western Avenue, and in his earlier years had worked at the former Daly Shoe Co. and Margolin's Pocketbook Shop. A longtime member of the VFW Carl M. Dessaint Post 1034, he served as commander of the post from 1966-67. Known for his green thumb and ability to grow just about anything, he annually kept a large garden both in Brattleboro and at his parent's property in Hinsdale. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing and was an avid Boston Red Sox fan. Memorial information: A graveside service will be held in Chesterfield West Cemetery on Poor Road at a later date when the cemetery reopens. Donations to the VFW Carl M. Dessaint Post 1034, Black Mountain Road, Brattleboro, VT 05301. Condolences may be sent Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.

Births

• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Feb. 6, 2013, a son, Ryker McKay Brown, to Megan (McKay) and Kevin Brown of Guilford; grandson to Ron and Kim McKay and Butch and Helen Brown.

College news

• Caitlin Durkin, an Education major in the Class of 2014 from Brattleboro, is currently studying abroad at the Champlain College Campus in Dublin, Ireland. She will be studying in Ireland for the remainder of the spring semester.

Transitions

• Brattleboro Memorial Hospital announced that Gerald Doherty, PA has joined Brattleboro Family Medicine and is accepting new patients. Doherty graduated from the Physician Assistant Studies program at the School of Science and Health, Philadelphia University in Pennsylvania in 1999. Most recently, he has been a Physician Assistant in Emergency Medicine at Cheshire Medical Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Keene, New Hampshire. He has also worked for Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center in Windsor, Vermont and Central Vermont Medical Center in Barre.