College news
• Sarah Tootill of Putney has graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a B.A. in Music, Summa Cum Laude. She has also been admitted to the graduate school at UMass-Amherst to study music history, starting this fall.
Obituaries
• Mark E. Billetdeaux Sr., 58, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died July 18, 2019, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born April 4, 1961 in Culver, Pa., to the late Edward Billetdeaux and Georgianna Morrisette, and attended schools in Brattleboro. He drove for BH Trucking for 20 years and, most recently, worked as a foreman for GPI Construction. He was an avid hunter, and enjoyed fishing and gardening. He especially enjoyed time spent with his grandchildren. Mark is survived by his loving wife of 34 years, Darlene (Gero) Billetdeaux; their two daughters Crystal Jillson and husband, Chris, and Tara Scarborough and her husband Matt; their son Mark Billetdeaux Jr. and his partner, Rachael; six grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and his dear friend Brian Younger. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held July 29 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro. Donations to the Kingsbury Cancer Center, 580 Court St. Keene, NH 03431
• Brian W. Halsted, 67, of Sunapee, N.H. and Saxtons River. Died unexpectedly on July 8, 2019, after a hospital stay. He was born on June 29, 1952, in Newport, N.H., to his parents, Betty Nilsen Halsted and John B. Halsted. He attended schools in Amherst, Mass., the Eaglebrook School in Deerfield, Mass., Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, and Cornell College in Iowa. He then worked in the construction industry in Florida and spent another 10 years in retail management. After another stint in construction in New Hampshire, and a year with the Springfield (Vt.) School District, he moved to Saxtons River and became the Company Manager, House Manager, and Technical Director for the Saxtons River Playhouse. Known affectionately as “Unc Bri” to many, he was a humble man of integrity, wit, and empathy whose thoughtfulness, humor, and counsel helped all with whom he associated. He is survived by his brother Mark Halsted, sister-in-law Arlene Halsted, his sister Lorna Schilling, and brother-in-law Falko Schilling; nieces and nephews John and Katharine Halsted, and Falko, Elizabeth, Nilsen, and Brian Schilling, and one great-niece Rayna Cosgrave. Memorial information: A celebration of life will take place on Saturday, Aug. 3, at 2 p.m., at the Chivers Center at Vermont Academy in Saxtons River. Donations to The Lake Sunapee Protective Association, 63 Main St, Sunapee, NH 03782 or to the Lake Sunapee Historical Society, 74 Main St., P.O. Box 501, Sunapee, NH 03782.
• May A. “Betty” Jones, 89, of South Windsor, Conn., and Wilmington. Died July 13, 2019. She was born on Feb. 15, 1930 in Bennington to the late Raymond and Alice Shays. She married to the late Francis Jones and resided in East Hartford, Conn., and Wilmington. Betty worked for the Travelers for 20 years, retiring to her home on Lake Raponda where she made many precious memories. Betty loved puzzles, gardening, bingo, crocheting, and knitting hats for children. She was a woman of strong faith, embracing the love of her deep Catholic roots. She is survived by her children: Daniel and his wife, Robyn, Mark, Gary, and Darlene; her sister, Jeannette Jones; and eight grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by siblings Raymond, Harold, and Junes. Memorial information: Funeral services were held July 27 at Our Lady of Fatima in Wilmington, followed by at Park Lawn Cemetery in Bennington. Donations to the ALS Foundation or the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, in care of Covey Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363. To send the family a personal tribute, visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.
• Wayne Arthur Olson, 66, formerly of Marstons Mills, Mass., and Brattleboro. Died July 14, 2019 at his son's home in Kennesaw, Ga. He was the owner of Oly's Plumbing in Brattleboro for many years. He is survived by his children Leigh (Janet), Craig (Tameika), Brenda (Greg); his wife, Patty; grandchildren Michael, Erick, Sean, Allie, Taliyah, Anthony Olson, Jake, Julia, and Will Brawn; and sisters Sandra and Janice (Desi). Memorial information: Services will be private.
• Charles A. “Charlie” Whipple, 83, of Guilford. Died July 23, 2019 at his home, following a brief illness. Born at home in Guilford on March 24, 1936, the son of Guy and Evelyn (Winchester) Whipple, was raised and educated in Guilford and had attended Brattleboro Union High School. He went on to proudly serve his country in the Army during the Vietnam War. He served stateside until his honorable discharge from active service. He owned and operated Whipple's Rubbish and Recycling, which he established in 1972. He successfully operated his business, which served many customers throughout Windham County, until he retired in 1997 and turned it over to his family members. Previously, he had been employed by the Guilford Highway Department, and worked with his late father in the day-to-day operation of Maple Row Farm and Cabins in Guilford. In his earlier years, he worked for Paper Services in Winchester, N.H. Active civically, he was a volunteer firefighter for several years with the Guilford Fire Department. Charlie was a devoted family man and was known for being a hard worker. With his wife, Martha Dubriske, whom he married in 1957, he enjoyed wintering in Zephyrhills, Fla., for many years. He loved the outdoors, chopping firewood, and riding his John Deere tractor as well as his motorcycle. He was also an avid NASCAR fan. Besides his faithful and devoted wife of 62 years, he leaves five daughters: Cheryl Franklin (Timothy) of Vernon, and Deborah Goodenough (Craig), Sandra Cutting (Reed), Sheila Brannen (Hugh), and Brenda Hogenmiller (Alex), all of Guilford; one sister, Charlotte Coll of Keene, a brother, Edgar Whipple of North Carolina, 13 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Additionally, he leaves many nieces and nephews and his beloved rescue dog, Buddy. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held July 27 at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brattleboro. Donations to the Guilford Volunteer Fire Department, 108 Guilford Center Rd., Guilford, VT 05301, or to Rescue Inc. P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To sign an online register book or send messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Linda Dorothy Zuverino, 58, of Sebring, Fla. Died peacefully on July 21, 2019 at her home. She was born on May 7, 1961, in Baltimore, Md., the daughter of Frank V. Fowler and Patricia A. (Beaudry) Fowler. With her family, she later moved to Brattleboro. Linda loved photography. She especially enjoyed taking many photos of her family and friends at special gatherings and loved traveling with her husband, Richard “Dickie” Houle. They eventually moved to Florida in 2013. Linda was a huge and faithful NASCAR fan and never missed a race on TV. She attended several NASCAR races at various tracks in the U.S. to watch her favorite driver, Kevin Harvick. She attended races at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, N.H., where she spent many summer weekends selling 50/50 raffle tickets while cheering on Dickie and other family racers. Her extended racing family were a very large part of her life. During the cold winter months in Vernon, you would find Linda on the ice at the “Setback” taking photos of Dickie racing. You couldn't keep her away, no matter how cold it was. She enjoyed crocheting, coloring, and using art supplies in her spare time and she also loved to watch the Baltimore Orioles. She was an avid collector of unicorns and, later in life, filled her home with owls. She loved everyone she came in contact with unconditionally and made all people “her” family. In addition to her loving husband of 28 years, she is survived by her three sons: Chancy Benjamin Smith III of St. Johnsbury, Frank Smith and his wife, Ashley, of Sarasota, Fla., and Frederick Zuverino III and his wife, Kristy, of Charlestown, N.H.; her sisters Laverne Ells and her husband, Corey, of Waxahachie, Texas, Lillian Fowler of East Dummerston, and Lisa Caslin of Brattleboro; four grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and cousins, and her cat Piper. She was predeceased by both parents, sister Laurie Fowler, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. Memorial information: A celebration of life will be held Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Fraternal Order Eagles, 54 Chickering Dr., Brattleboro. Donations to Cornerstone Hospice Care at www.cshospice.org/foundation/giving.