College news
• Kristina Wittler, a Putney School graduate from South Newfane, is a member of Colgate University's bicentennial Class of 2019.
• Robyn Avery of Brattleboro is enrolled at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., as part of the Class of 2019.
• Eben Holderness of Brattleboro, a freshman at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., was named to the spring 2015 Dean's List.
School news
• Kaelan Selbach-Broad, 18, of Putney, placed third in his age group in the American Society of Safety Engineers' 2015 Student Safety Awareness Video Contest. Kaelan's video (www.asse.org/newsroom/naosh/naosh-video-contest) earned him a $250 prize after a panel of safety and video judges selected his entry.
Obituaries
• Betty Lois Bennett, 88, of Vernon. Died Aug. 10 at the Vernon Green Nursing Home, where she had resided for many years. Born in Gary, Ind., daughter of the late Hilma Wyland and Maurice Fairchild Bennett and graduated from Chesterton (Ind.) High School in 1945. She moved to Vermont from Atlanta, Ga., in 1981. She lived for several years at the old Brooks House Apartments and worked in housekeeping at the Brattleboro Retreat. Later, she moved to West Brattleboro and then to Vernon, where she lived first at Vernon Hall and then at Vernon Green. Her loves were music and people. She had an exceptional memory for the words and tunes of all the old songs of the 1940s and 1950s. She loved to sing. She also had a good sense of humor and, despite a life full of troubles, kept a positive attitude. She attended the Congregational Church in Brattleboro and later Green Mountain Chapel in West Brattleboro. She is survived by her son, Gary Alan Young and his wife, Cindy, of Austin, Texas. her granddaughters, Sarah and Hannah, as well as her sister, Peggy Bennett Anderson, of Granby, Mass. Memorial information: None provided.
• Elizabeth “Rozey” Brown, 80, of East Dover. Died Aug. 19 at her home. Wife of Erwin “Sonny” Brown for nearly 51 years. Mother of Jeffrey Brown and his wife, Lori, of East Dover, Daniel Brown of East Dover, Gayle Woodcock of South Newfane, and the late James and David Brown. Sister of Paul L. Jones of Virginia. Born in Williamsville, the daughter of the late Clyde W. and Olive (Gale) Jones, she grew up on the family farm, Fairview Farm, and attended schools in East Dover. She was a 1951 graduate of Brattleboro High School. She worked as a secretary for most of her life, first at the Hoffman Insurance Agency in Brattleboro, the Windham Regional Supervisory Union, and for her son, Jeff. She had also worked at the Dover School and drove the school bus, becoming a second mom to many of the children at the school. She was very civic minded and volunteered for many positions in Dover, including serving on the Selectboard, School Board, and Dover Historical Society. She was a Town Lister for many years and was an EMT with the East Dover Fire Department, where she also served as Treasurer. The Browns enjoyed participating and attending many horse pulling events, where she would be the announcer for the day's activities. She was an avid reader, a prolific poetry writer, a great story teller, enjoyed the challenge of crossword puzzles, and just loved to talk. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A funeral service will be held at The Fairview Farm, 25 Jockey Hollow Rd., in East Dover on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 11 a.m. Burial will follow immediately at the Williamsville New Cemetery. There are no calling hours. Following the cemetery service, the family invites everyone to join them at the farm for a memorial reception. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital, the Dover Historical Society or the American Cancer Society, in care of Covey Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.
• Roger Farrar, 65, of Londonderry. Died recently at his home. Father of Andrew, of Hudson, Fla.; Angela, of Springfield, Vt.; and Silas, of Burlington. Brother of Ronald and Russel Farrar, and the late Reginald Farrar. The son of the late Arthur and Aili Farrar of Chester, he graduated from St. Johnsbury Trade School in 1968 and was an honorary member of the class of 1968 from Chester High School. He worked as a driver, welder, fabricator, stone mason, and farmer. His greatest passion and talent, however, was as a blacksmith. He worked at Fairbanks Scales, Rouse's, Lamoille Valley Railroad, Idlenot Dairy, Harris Transportation, Austin Memorials and his own enterprise, Farrar Welding. Memorial information: A celebration of life picnic will be held (rain or shine) at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Motel in the Meadow in Chester, with a service at 4 p.m. Family, friends and acquaintances are invited to bring a potluck dish and memories. Donations to the Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 911, Londonderry, VT 05148 or to the Heath Gordon Scholarship Fund, in care of TD Bank, 48 Main St., Chester, VT 05143.
• Roy D. “Dave” Hodgman, 59, of Ludlow, Mass. Died Aug. 15. Husband of Elaine (Lewison) Hodgman for 33 years. Father of Nathan and Samantha Hodgman. Brother of Donnie and Pete Hodgman, both of Winchester, N.H., and Kathy Nicholson and her husband, Stephen, of Swanzey, N.H. Born in Brattleboro, the son of the late Everett and Lillian (Fostyck) Hodgman, he grew up in Winchester and Hinsdale, N.H., and was a 1974 graduate of Thayer High School in Winchester. He spent his early years working on the family dairy farm in Hinsdale. He served in the Navy, where he learned his welding trade and became an exceptional welder and maintenance mechanic. After an honorable discharge in 1979, he returned to dairy farming for a few years, then concluded his comprehensive working career as a metal fabricator and maintenance mechanic for several area firms. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A funeral service was held Aug. 22 at Kapinos-Mazur Funeral Home in Ludlow. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family. Donations to Dairy Farmers of America, DFA Cares Foundation, in care of Ron Hilmes, 10220 N. Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153
• Patricia Ann Howard, 67, of Bridport. Died Aug. 14 at Westwood Nursing Home in Keene, N.H., after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease. Wife of Bruce Allen Howard for nearly 50 years. Mother of Pamela Nelson and her husband, Steve; Tina Gorton and her husband, John; and Christine Lane and her husband, Todd. Sister of David Davis and his wife, Sharon; Carol Clark and her husband, Henry; Robert Davis and his wife,Linda; Kenneth Davis and his wife Mary; and the late Nancy Adams and Roger Davis. Born in Springfield, Vt., daughter of the lae. Charles and Eleanor Davis, she worked many years for Harlow's Sugar House, Green Mountain Orchard, Putney General Store, and Amp Keyboard Technology. She cleaned houses for many people and, until her retirement, she cleaned for Middlebury College. When her daughters were young, she taught Sunday School, was a Brownie leader, and taught ceramic classes. Working with her hands afforded her great solace and joy. She made clothes for her daughters when they were younger, and loved painting, quilting, gardening, cooking, baking, crafts, photography, and birds. One of her great joys was visiting the ocean, picking up shells and visiting lighthouses. The quote, “May you always have a shell in your pocket and sand between your toes,” resonated for her. In the eyes of her adoring family, she was a tremendous cook, always receiving praise for her prized dishes: macaroni and cheese, baked beans, homemade doughnuts, chocolate chip cookies, blueberry buckle, apple cake, and ham gravy.During her retirement she spent countless hours quilting, most especially making lap quilts. She bequeathed more than she kept to children less fortunate in Haiti and Ecuador, many local nursing homes, the AIDS Project, CHaD at Dartmouth, new moms and many family and friends. She loved spending time with her family and friends, but her grandchildren were very dear to her heart. Memorial information: A graveside service was held on Aug. 21 at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Putney, with a celebration of life to follow at Putney Fire Department. Donations to the Alzheimer's Association, 166 South River Road #210, Bedford, NH 03110 or to Life Choice Hospice, 170 South River Road, Unit 2, Bedford, NH 03110. Atamaniuk Funeral Home of Brattleboro handled arrangements.
• John Joseph “Jack” Judge Jr., 72, of Vernon. Died Aug. 14 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., following a brief illness. Husband of Melanie Judge for near 12 years. Former husband of Joan Sokolowski. Father of Jill Zachary and her husband, Peter, of Westminster; John J. Judge, III of Massachusetts; and Alexandra S. Judge of West Palm Beach, Fla. Brother of Joyce (Gary Linebury), Judi (Larry Boomer), Jerry, (late wife Claudia), Janet Hunter, Jay, (Nancy), Joseph, Nancy (fiancé Don), Daniel (Lori), and the late Jeffrey. Born in Holyoke, Mass., the son of Ethel (Butler) and the late John J. Judge, he was raised and educated in Holyoke attending public schools there. Upon completion of high school, he joined the National Guard and was honorably discharged at the end of his enlistment. During his time in the Guard, he trained as a welder. This skill influenced his employment choices for many years. He began his welding career working with the Iron Workers on bridges and major building complexes. He ultimately joined the Pipefitters Union and became a highly skilled, certified, nuclear grade pipe welder, which included a stint on the Alaska Pipeline. The welding endeavor was successful and provided a good living, however his ambition and drive soon propelled him into more challenging supervisory roles with Mercury Company of Norwood. His first supervisory roles were in the welding field, but soon led to superintendent positions and, ultimately, project management in the nuclear plant maintenance and retrofitting arena. The nuclear plant operational knowledge and support experience Jack gained during this period in his life positioned him well for starting a nuclear support service company of his own. In 1989, he established R.O.V. Technologies in Brattleboro, where he served as president and CEO until the company was sold in March 2015. To his credit, in the many years Jack operated R.O.V. Technologies, numerous unique and industry first robotic equipment revelations were designed, manufactured and utilized by ROV Technologies Technicians to assist nuclear plants with their many complex maintenance and inspection requirements. Some of these innovations received National Recognition and Top Industry Performance awards. In October 2014, with his wife Melanie, he purchased the Brattleboro Country Club. His other interests included fishing, wood cutting and collecting cars. He held membership in the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Brattleboro Aerie #2445. His first marriage to Joan Sukoloski ended in divorce. After a 21-year relationship, Jack and Melanie decided to tie the knot on October 2004. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Aug. 21 at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Brattleboro. Donations to Norris Cotton Cancer Center, DHMC, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756 or David's House, P.O. Box 660, Lebanon, NH 03766. Atamaniuk Funeral Home handled arrangements.
• John J. Lawson, 51, of Wilmington. Died Aug. 18 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Born in Stamford, Conn., the son of John R. and Margaret (Munko) Lawson, he followed his father into the carpentry trade. He was a carpenter's apprentice with the Carpenters Union, Local 210, until an accident left him unable to work. He thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing, and riding dirt bikes. He liked all sports and enjoyed golfing with his family and friends. Besides his parents, he is survived by siblings Suzanne Zimmerman of Wilmington, Gari Lawson of Chelmsford, Mass., and Pam Dwyer and husband, Bud, of Wilmington. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A funeral Mass was celebrated on Aug. 26 at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Wilmington. Donations to the Brain Injury Association of America. in care of the Covey Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.
• Kristine A.“Krissy” Walton, 62, of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 17 at her home following a period of declining health. Sister of Geralyn Walton and her partner, Robert Lance, of Hinsdale, N.H., Thomas Walton of San Clemente, Calif., and the late Kathleen Walton Seymour. Born in Allentown, Pa., the daughter of the late Thomas and Kathleen (Holmes) Walton, she was raised and educated in Enfield, Conn., and was a graduate of Enfield High School, Class of 1970. Prior to moving to Brattleboro, she resided in Wilmington for five years. She had been employed as a logistics specialist for C&S Wholesale Grocers, retiring in January 2015 following 27 years of faithful service with the company. Known for her thoughtful, caring personality and spirit of friendship, for several years she dedicated her life to the care of her elderly mother and aunt during their later years. She will also be remembered for her quick wit and unique sense of humor. She was an avid Boston Red Sox fan and held membership in the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Brattleboro Aerie #2445. She also loved to travel, both stateside and abroad. She was married to Keith Graves in September 1977. Although the marriage ended in divorce she remained good friends with her former husband. Although she did not have children of her own, “Aunt Krissy” was very close to her nieces and nephews. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A memorial gathering was held Aug. 22 at VFW Carl M. Dessaint Post 1034 in Brattleboro. Donations to Boy Scout Troop 496, in care of Tyler Raymond, 19 Indian Acres Drive, Hinsdale, N.H. 03451. Atamaniuk Funeral Home of Brattleboro handled arrangements.
Memorial services
• There will be a celebration of life for James Michael (Mickie) Halpin on Friday, Aug. 28, at 1 p.m., at 1605 Pond Rd. in Vernon. Call 802-254-3869 for details, ask for Gloria.
• A celebration of life is planned for Philip R. Howe on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 11 a.m., at the Hinsdale Historical Society, 609 Brattleboro Rd., Hinsdale, N.H. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Hinsdale Historical Society, P.O. Box 194, Hinsdale, NH 03451. or to Hospice of Keene, P.O. Box 564, Keene, NH 03431.
• Funeral services for Rolland P. Marden, formerly of Vernon, will be conducted Friday, Aug. 28, at 11 a.m., at Vernon Union Church. Burial with full military honors will follow in Tyler Cemetery. Friends are invited to call at the Atamaniuk Funeral Home in Brattleboro on Thursday, Aug. 27, from 7 to 9 p.m. Mr. Marden, 89, died July 31, 2015, in Evington, Va.