College news
• Genevieve M. Darling of South Newfane, has been named to the Dean's List at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., for the fall 2015 semester.
• Molly Ann Rice of Brattleboro has been named to the Dean's List at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., for the fall 2015 semester.
• Nicole Winot, a sophomore cinema production major from Brookline, was named to the fall 2015 Dean's List at Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C.
• Hannah D. Zorian of Guilford spent the fall 2015 semester at the SIT: Community Health & Social Policy Program in South Africa. A member of the Class of 2017 at Stonehill College in Easton, Mass., Zorian is majoring in Biology.
• The following area students have been named to the Champlain College Dean's List for the fall 2015 semester: Cuyler Cunningham, a communications major from Brattleboro; Aubrie Gillam, a creative media major from Putney; John Houk, a computer science and innovation major from Brattleboro; and Jeremy Root, a game design major from Vernon.
• Sarah Bemis, a member of the Class of 2016 from Brattleboro, was named to the Dean's List for the fall 2015 semester at Eastern Connecticut State University. Bemis's major is early childhood education and sociology.
School news
• Mikayla Clarke, a senior at Bellows Falls Union High School, was a finalist in Sen. Bernie Sanders' annual State of the Union essay contest for Vermont high school students. Nearly 800 students from 39 high schools around Vermont participated in the contest, the highest number in its six years of existence. As a finalist, Clarke's essay, on legalizing marijuana, will be entered into the Congressional Record.
Obituaries
• Ola J. Balch, 94, of Hartland, formerly of North Walpole, N.H. Died Jan. 9. She was born in Winhall and attended Leland & Gray Seminary in Townshend. She grew up with three siblings on a small family farm where she enjoyed loading and driving the hay wagon. Her father was proud that she could get more hay on a wagon than any hired man could. She held jobs waitressing and housekeeping throughout her adulthood, and enjoyed knitting, crocheting. and sewing. She will be remembered for her positive attitude and warm smile. She will be dearly missed by her sister, Joyce Ameden of Bondville; three daughters, Bettina Read of Hartland, Judith Pratt of Alstead, N.H., and Janette Balch of Rutland. She was blessed with eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren with another on the way. She was predeceased by two brothers, Ora and John Slade. Memorial information: A celebration of life will be held at the Hartland Universalist Unitarian Church in Hartland Four Corners on Saturday, Feb. 6, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Hartland Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 341, Hartland, VT 05048.
• Robert Adams “Bob” Culver, 86, of Newfane. Died Jan. 10 at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend. Born in Brattleboro, son of the late Edith Adams and Henry Clinton Culver, he moved to Newfane with his parents in 1948 and graduated from Brattleboro High School in 1949. Following his graduation from Wentworth Institute in Boston in 1951, he was hired by General Electric in Pittsfield, Mass. He was transferred to Schenectady, N.Y., in 1953, where he proudly worked until his retirement in 1989. His family was always the most important part of his life. After marrying Alice Kenyon Culver of Grafton in 1957, they moved to Alplaus, N.Y., where they raised their three children, Tom, Dave, and Cheryl. He had great joy in his later years, being part of and following his seven grandchildren's lives; he looked forward to his first great-grandchild, due in March. He was the last surviving founding member of the Newbrook Fire & Rescue in Newfane and was an honorary life member, attending his last company meeting just a few days before his death. He was chief of Alplaus Fire Department from 1968 to 1978 and, with over 50 years of active service in Alplaus, is also an honorary life member of that department. He was Deputy County Coordinator for Schenectady County from 1976 to 1999 and was instrumental in getting the 911 system up and operating in Schenectady County. He enjoyed traveling and camping, especially on the coast of Maine, and snowmobiling with his family and friends. He was a skilled craftsman, spending much of his free time in his home away from home, his shop. He loved showing up at his kids' houses with a box of tools, ready to tackle whatever job(s) awaited him. After retiring from GE, he spent some time in Florida, but was always drawn back to his roots. He designed his own house, had it built, and moved back to Newfane with his wife in 2007. There he spent his remaining years, enjoying his old friends from his childhood as well as the many new friends he made since moving back. He is survived by his wife; his children, Thomas Culver and his wife, Maureen, of Scotia, NY; David Culver and his wife, Mary Beth, of Grafton, and Cheryl Watkins and her husband, Michael, of Bluefield, W.Va. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Jan. 17 at Newfane Congregational Church in Newfane. Burial in Woodlawn Cemetery in Newfane will be held in the springtime. Donations to Newbrook Fire & Rescue, P.O. Box 77, Newfane, VT 05345; or to Alplaus Volunteer Fire Dept., 309 Alplaus Ave., Alplaus, NY 12008. To sign an online register book or send messages of e-condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Dora Balch Dix, 84, of Framingham, Mass., a former resident of Brattleboro. Died Jan. 8 at MetroWest Hospital in Framingham. Wife of the late Chester Dix for nearly 41 years. Mother of Bonnie Dix and Christopher Dix, both of Natick, Mass., and David Dix and his wife, Melanie, of Woodbridge, Va. Sister of Raymond Balch and Sharon Greatorex of Lyme Center, N.H., Doris Jenks of Lyme, N.H., Sarah Estes of Barre, and the late Harvey Balch. Also survived by two grandchildren. Born in Pike, N.H., the daughter of the late Roy E. and Olive W. (Blanchard) Balch, she was the oldest of six children, four girls and two boys, all of whom grew up in Lyme Center, N.H. She worked at Nichols Hardware behind the snack bar, where her sisters Sarah and Sharon followed in her footsteps. She and her husband were both active in the Grange and the Lions Club, and they loved to dance. They bought their first house in Norwich, where they started their family. She did the toy buying for Hanover (N.H) Hardware for many years. Her family next moved to Woodstock, where her husband worked at Elm Tree Press, and she ran the concession stand at Silver Lake State Park in Barnard. Several years later, they returned to their home on River Road in Norwich, where she worked at the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen and her husband at Dartmouth Printing. This was followed by a career change for Chet and Dora when they moved to Brattleboro to run Stockwell's General Store in West Brattleboro. After her husband's death in 1994, she was babysitter for local children, who became her second set of grandchildren. After a stroke, she moved to Natick, to live with Bonnie and Chris. When her health allowed, she spent time each summer with David and his wife Melanie in the Washington, D.C., area. Her children took excellent care of her and kept her home until her passing. She loved her summers on Mascoma Lake in Enfield, N.H., sitting on the deck watching for loons or being out on her pontoon boat riding the length of the lake. Memorial information: Funeral services were held Jan. 13 at West Brattleboro Baptist Church, with burial in West Brattleboro Cemetery. Donations to Salmon Adult Day Staff, Three Vision Drive, Natick, MA 01760. To sign an online guestbook with messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Phyllis Mae Nixon Gorton, 85, of San Antonio Texas. Died Jan. 5. Born in Brattleboro to the late Sydney and Violetta Nixon in Brattleboro, she was one of seven children. As a young girl, she loved adventure and at the age of 12 scrounged up all her allowance to take a ride with a barnstormer. She met the love of her life at the age of 8, when Everett Gorton asked her out for an ice cream. She ran all the way home after the invitation, but he continued to pursue her and they married in 1952. The adventures continued when, as a military wife, she travelled where her husband was stationed and lived in Germany, France, The Philippines and several locations in the United States. She often would travel alone with her five children to meet her husband in their new home. She worked as a photography assistant at Lewis R. Brown's studio in Brattleboro, a dental assistant in Brattleboro and Clark Air Force Base in The Philippines, and a teacher's aide at The Cerebral Palsy Center in San Antonio as well as Nellie Redding Center ,working with special needs children. Her hobbies included photography, ceramics, sewing, traveling, camping, volunteer work and spending time with friends and family. She loved giving back to the community and volunteered as a Girl Scout Leader, and was active in the Wilford Hall Medical Center Volunteer Association, NCO Wives Club, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, and Friendship House. She was instrumental in the founding of St. Padre Pio Catholic Church, where she served as a Sacristan and hospitality greeter. Many people from St. Padre Pio stated that her smile and warm welcoming personality were the first things they remembered when they first entered the church. Her awards included Mother of The Year at Lackland AFB and The Lumen Gentium Award. Her greatest joy in life was her family. Her granddaughters remember the “tea parties” she would host for them where they were able to play dress up and wear hats from her vintage collection. She loved spending time in the summer and fall with friends and family at her childhood home in Brattleboro. For 20 years, Phyllis and Everett worked with their son Michael and daughter-in-law Shelley to put together a Nixon Family Calendar filled with family photographs, stories and important family dates. Her countless friends and family described her as a kind, loving woman with a beautiful smile and a perpetually positive nature who had the ability to make everyone around her feel welcome and loved.She leaves behind her husband of 63 years Everett Gorton, their five children and spouses D Jay Gorton, Jan and Darrell Steidley, Michael and Shelley Gorton, Jill and Donald Vermeulen, Mary Begia Henderson, and Damon Henderson; her siblings and spouses Joyce Larsen, Bernard and Ellie Nixon, Claire and Tom Tyminski, and Marie and David Tarbox, along with 14 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, She was preceded in death by Gloria Nixon Barrett, Jack Barrett, Sydney Jean Nixon, and Neil Larsen. Memorial information: Funeral services were held Jan. 11 in San Antonio.
• Helen Mary Greenbaum, 94, of Brattleboro. Died Jan. 2 at Holton Home following a happy holiday period with all of her family. Wife of the late Joshua Greenbaum. Mother of Peter Greenbaum of Pinellas Park, Fla., and Arthur Greenbaum of Brattleboro. Sister of Margaret Grezegorski. Also survived by four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was born in Lynch, Ky., the daughter of the late Joseph and Helen (Ulik) Protus, both immigrants from Czechoslovakia. She was raised and educated in New York City, where she attended local schools. She had been employed as an administrative assistant for the Half Hollow Hills School District on Long Island; where she retired from in 1990 after 30 faithful and devoted years of service. She started her business career at Samual Greenbaum's Law Office, where she met her future husband. She later moved to Long Island and worked as a typist at Republic Aviation Company. Prior to moving to Brattleboro, she had been a resident of Palm Bay, Fla., Sylvan Lake and Deer Park, N.Y., and Farmingdale, Long Island. She was a communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brattleboro. She was a faithful and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother whose life centered around her family. She enjoyed handcrafts, knitting and crocheting. Memorial information: In keeping with her final wishes, services will be privately held with all of her family in the spring. Donations to The Holton Home, 158 Western Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301. To sign an online register book or send messages of e-condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Barbara M. Look, 91, of Wilmington. Died Jan. 13 at Pine Heights in Brattleboro. Wife of the late Fred Cook for 50 years. Mother of Richard and his wife, Terese Look, of Raymond, N.H., Jeffrey Look of Williamsville, and the late Daniel Look. Sister of Judith Looke of Manchester, Conn., Jeanne Bliven of Ballston Spa, N.Y., William and wife, Laura Haskins, of Newton, Mass., and the late Phil Haskins, Marion Bullett and Ann Levasseur. Also survived by five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Born in Wilmington, the daughter of the late Percey and Blanche (Jacobs) Haskins, she grew up in Wilmington, attended local schools, and graduated from Wilmington High School in 1942. Her first job was at the former Readsboro Chair Shop; she then was a secretary in the Guidance Department at both Wilmington and Whitingham High Schools from 1967 to 1970. In 1970, when the Deerfield Valley Elementary School opened, she began a long 30-year career there. She was extremely active with administrative duties and, more importantly, interacting with the children and their parents. On many occasions, she was a substitute grandmother for the children and, over the years, she had a positive influence on hundreds of children, whom she loved to teach and nurture. She wrote articles for the Brattleboro Reformer and was chosen as “Citizen of The Year” in 2000 by the American Legion She was a member of the Wilmington Historical Society, Ladies Aid at the Wilmington Baptist Church, Mothers Club, Home Dem Group and a Cub Scout Leader. She enjoyed bowling throughout her life and liked going camping with her husband, attending the family reunions, completing crossword puzzles, and collecting pictures. However, she really enjoyed being with her grandchildren. Memorial information: Funeral services were held Jan. 19 at Covey Allen & Shea Funeral Home, with burial in the family lot in Riverview Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to the Wilmington Historical Society. To send condolences, visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.
• Estelle Kathryn (Parrott) Lynch, 97, formerly of Bellows Falls. Died Jan. 6 at Elm Wood Center in Claremont, N.H., where she lived for almost two years. Prior to Elm Wood Center, she lived for 24 years with her late daughter, Marie Loise Pellerin, and son-in-law, Ronnie. Mother of Carrie Dixon of Springfield, Donna Gaywont and Colleen Weeks, both of Charlestown, N.H., Joan Slaght of Westminster, Sharon Wormald of Charlestown, Barbara Thompson of Springfield, and the late Leon Francis Lynch and Dan Albert Lynch. Sister of Kenneth and John Parrott, and Joan Davis. Also survived by 22 grandchildren. Daughter of the late Winifred and Frances Parrott, she worked for many years at Sylvania Electronics in Hillsboro, N.H., the IGA bakery in Bellows Falls, and finally at Basketville in Putney. She loved her family and remained active well into her 90s. She loved Bingo, gardening, crocheting, and sewing. She was a social butterfly and will be missed by both her family and her many, many friends. Known to many as Kay or Midge, she will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. Memorial information: Services will be held in the spring at the convenience of family,
• Virginia Hendrickson Osman, 94, a resident of Holton Home in Brattleboro. Died Jan. 10 after a short illness. She moved to Vermont to be near her daughter, Cathy, in 2010 after the passing of her husband, Steig B. Osman. They had lived for many years in the Shelter Bay neighborhood of La Conner, Wash. She was surrounded by family in her last days and will be sorely missed. Memorial information: No service information provided.
• Edgar “Scotty” Taylor, 89, of Bellows Falls. Died Jan. 7. Born in Lunenburg, the son of the late Edgar and Alice (Bishop) Taylor, he worked in farming, for the Bellows Falls Highway Department, and spent 14 years at Blanchflower Lumber. He is survived by his wife, Madeline (Merrill) Taylor. Memorial information: There was a funeral on Jan. 18 at Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls, followed by burial at Oak Hill Cemetery in Bellows Falls.