Obituaries
Editor's note: The Commons will publish brief biographical information for citizens of Windham County and others, on request, as community news, free of charge. Traditional full obituaries will eventually be published as news on www.commonsnews.org as we receive them. As community support for the newspaper increases, we will surely reconsider publishing more traditionally complete obituaries in the print newspaper.
• Shirley S. Benson, 78, of Jamaica and Greer, S.C. Died July 31 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Wife of the late Richard Stasium and the late John H. Benson. Sister of Margaret Betney of Essex, United Kingdom. Stepmother of Bruce Benson of Morris Plains, N.J., and Beth Benson, M.D., of Rochester, N.Y. Was a nurse and midwife in Leeds and London in the United Kingdom before moving to the United States in 1960. Once in America, she served on the staff of Orange Memorial Hospital in Orange, N.J., until her retirement in 1997. Memorial information: A memorial gathering will be held Saturday, Aug, 14 at 3:00 PM in the Garden of Grace at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital, c/o Dr. Robert Backus, P.O. Box 216, Townshend, VT 05353. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family in care of Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Leonard P. Bingham, 81, of Bellows Falls. Died July 25 at his home. Husband of Pearl Doucette Bingham for 53 years. Father of Pamela (Bingham) Adams, Richard P. Bingham and Edward C. Bingham. Brother of Alice Kerr. Predeceased by a twin sister, Loraine (Bingham) O'Conner and brothers Lester, Carroll and Ray Bingham. Served in the Navy for six as a Boatswain's Mate on the aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea during the Korean Conflict, and then joined the Air Force after his discharge and served for an additional 2 years. Operated Bing's Barber Shop on Main Street in Bellows Falls, then worked for the U.S. Postal Service until his retirement in 1980. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held at the Athens Community Christian Church on Aug. 23 at 7 p.m, with a burial service will be held at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph on Aug. 24 at 11 a.m. Donations to the Athens Community Christian Church, P.O. Box 7, Cambridgeport, VT, 05141 and the VT/NH Visiting Nurses Association.
• Charles “Chuck” H. Dascomb, 70, of Vernon, Conn. Died July 29 at Virginia Beach (Va.) General Hospital. Husband of Paula Johnson Dascomb for 43 years. Father of Charles Dascomb Jr. and his wife, Audrey of Londonderry, N.H.; and Criss Pare and her husband, Joe of Vernon, Conn. Brother of Edwin Dascomb and his wife, Carol of Norwich, Conn.; Alfred Dascomb and his wife June, of West Chesterfield, N.H.; and Carole Frizzell and her husband, Tom of Brattleboro, Vt. Grew up in Brattleboro and later moved to Connecticut to work in the aerospace industry. Served in the U.S. Navy. Memorial information: A funeral service was held on Aug. 4 at the First Congregational Church of Vernon. Donations to the First Congregational Church of Vernon, 695 Hartford Turnpike, Vernon, CT 06066. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family in care of Carmon Funeral Home at www.carmonfuneralhome.com.
• William “Bill” Graham, Jr., 79, of Putney. Died Aug. 3 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., the result of a head injury he sustained following an accidental fall at his camp in Bradford. Husband of Phyllis Austin Graham for 51 years. Father of Kimberlee Denning and her husband, Jeffrey of Weare N.H. Graduate of Brattleboro High School, Class of 1948. Served as Windham County Sheriff for 33 years, retiring in 2002. Prior to his appointment as sheriff in 1969, he served as juvenile probation and parole officer in Brattleboro. From 1954 to 1963, he served with the Vermont State Police, working out of the Fairlee Outpost. Was active in numerous professional and civic organizations. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on Aug. 7 at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, with burial in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Putney. Donations to the BHS/BUHS Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1532, Brattleboro, VT. 05302-1532, for a special scholarship for students perusing a career in law enforcement. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family in care of Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Norma Doris Lane, 85, of Brattleboro. Died July 30. Mother of Claudia DeGroff DiPeri and Cicely DeGroff Eastman, both of Brattleboro. Sister of Ethel Lane of Patchogue, N.Y., and Gloria McGinty of Lanett, Ala. Was an accomplished painter of Vermont landscapes and family portraits. Enjoyed writing, and was especially proud of her poetry. Memorial information: A private family celebration of her life was held. Donations to Rescue Inc, P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family in care of Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Heidi W. Lawrence, 67, of Whitingham. Died Aug. 4 at her home. Wife of David Lawrence for 31 years. Mother of Heather Downey and her husband, Jim, of Eagle, Colo., and Holly Maine of Washington, D.C. Sister of Hedy W. Meisner of University Place, Wash. Graduate of Edgemont High School in Scarsdale, N.Y., and Middlebury College. Was an active member in the Lions Club and was a board member of the Jacksonville Library. Memorial information: A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Donations to the Jacksonville Library, Southwestern Vermont Hospice or The Humane Society of the United States, Vermont Chapter, in care of Covey & Allen Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family in care of www.sheafuneralhomes.com.
• Mildred Alice Martin, 95, of Marlboro. Died Aug. 2 at home. Sister of Beatrice (Emily) Alice Martin of Marlboro; Ruth Felip and husband, Ernie of Gloucester, N.C.; Arthur R. Martin and wife, Doris, of Navarre, Fla.; John Martin and wife, Leslie, of White Hall, Ark.; David Martin and wife, Patricia of Morristown N.J.; and Charles Martin and wife, Carol, of Tuckerton, N.J. Predeceased by brothers Richard and Edward Martin. Retired from Western Electric in Kearny, N.J., before moving to Marlboro. Was an avid gardener and enjoyed knitting, providing many hats and mittens and sweaters to Kurn Hattin Homes and other organizations. Memorial information: A service was held Aug. 7 at the Riverview Cemetery in Wilmington. Donations to Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302 or Deerfield Valley Rescue, P.O. Box 854, Wilmington, VT 05363.
• Paul Edward Shield, 79, of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 6. Husband of Elaine Fleming Shield for 53 years. Father of Anne Valgoi and her husband Renee of Alpharetta, Ga.; Paul Shield Jr. and his wife, Maire O'Neill of New York, N.Y.; William Shield and his wife, Vicki of Mansfield; Joseph Shield and his wife, Lori of Avon, Conn.; Francis Shield and his wife, Sherryl of Spofford, N.H.; and Daniel Shield and his wife, Claire of Mansfield, Mass. Brother of Marie Mallat of Keene, N.H.; William Shield of Norwood, Mass.; and Philip Shield of Burlington. Graduate of St. Michael's High School in Brattleboro in 1949 and from Boston College in 1953. Served as an artillery officer in the Army. Was a co-owner, along with his brother-in-law Richard Fleming, of Fleming Oil Co. in Brattleboro. Active in local affairs and was named Person of the Year in 1996 by the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce. Memorial information: A funeral Mass,was held Aug. 10 at St. Michaels Catholic Church, with burial in St. Michael's Cemetery. Donations to St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, 47 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, or to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Foundation, 17 Belmont Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family in care of Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Dorothy Simson, 89, of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 1 at home. Wife of James A. Simson for 67 years. Mother of James M. Simson, of Brattleboro, David Simson of Brooklyn, N.Y., Cynthia Macalister of Hilton Head, N.C . and Susan Cocks of Needham, Mass. Graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, earned a Masters at Hofstra University and taught elementary school in the Belmore school district on Long Island. Moved to the Brattleboro with her husband 40 years ago, and restored and built several homes in the Brattleboro area. Cared for a large number of collies, some from rescue shelters, of whom she was inordinately fond. Memorial information: A private family celebration of her life was held. Donations to Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family in care of Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Bradley Robert Stockwell, 75, of East Goshen, Pa. Died Aug. 5 at Neighborhood Hospice in West Chester, Pa.. Husband of Nancy M. Stockwell for 50 years. Father of Kye and wife, Cindy of Walpole, N.H.; Lynda of Des Moines, Iowa; and Erik and wife, Jean of Charlotte, N.C. Graduate of Brattleboro High School and Tufts University. Retired as a division manager from Bell Atlantic in 1991 after 33 years of service. Memorial information: A family celebration of his life will be held at Penn Oaks Golf Club, West Chester, Pa., on Aug. 15. Donations to La Mancha Animal Rescue, 855 Doe Run Rd., Coatesville, PA 19320; Chester County SPCA, 1212 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, PA 19380; or Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines, 1710 Ridge Rd., South Coventry, PA 19465.