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.
•Alice Stowell Bliss, 99, of Chester, Vt. and Zephyrhills, Fla. Died Aug. 10 in Zephyrhills. Wife of the late Willis Bill Bliss for 56 years. Born in Windham, one of 16 children born to Elias and Minnie Robinson Stowell. Was proud of her family and especially proud to be a great-great grandmother. Was involved with the senior citizens at The First Baptist Church of Chester and never missed a Bingo game. Memorial information: No services were announced. Donations to the First Baptist Church of Chester, P.O. Box 187, Chester, VT 05143 or the Windham Congregational Church, 26 Harrington Road, Windham, VT 05359.
• Joan A. Milkey Chavez, 62, of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 11 in Albuquerque, N.M. Wife of Freddy Chavez. Mother of Alfred Chavez. Daughter of Dorothy Milkey of Brattleboro. Sister of Gini Milkey and partner Ed Paquin of Brattleboro and Barre, Vt.; Sue Minard and husband, Bill of Richmond, Vt.; and Mary May and husband Ernie of Pelham, Mass. Predeceased by her father, Edwin Milkey and her son, Chris. Graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1965, and the University of Vermont with a degree in elementary education in 1969. Earned a master's degree in mathematics and then graduated from the University of New Mexico Law School, passing her bar exam in 1980. Was a dedicated educator for more than 36 years in Albuquerque. Memorial information: A funeral service was held in Albuquerque on Aug. 16. A memorial service will be held in Brattleboro at a later date. Donations to the American Lung Association in Vermont, 372 Hurricane Lane, Williston, VT 05495-2080 or to the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, P.O. Box 10832, Bedford, NH 03110-0832.
• David A. Gibson, 74, of Brookline. Died Aug. 16 in Charlotte, N.C. Son of former U.S. Senator, Vermont governor and federal judge Ernest W. Gibson Jr. Graduate of Brattleboro High School, Yale University and the University of Virginia Law School. Was a longtime attorney in Brattleboro. Was Windham County State's Attorney for three years, and served as a member of the Board of Education from 1973 to 1977. Was a state senator from 1977 to 1983. Later served at the Secretary of the Senate for 10 years after the death of his brother, Robert Gibson, and was respected for his knowledge of parliamentary procedure. Survived by his brother, retired Vermont Supreme Court Justice Ernest W. Gibson III. Memorial information: Calling hours are Friday, Aug. 20, from 6-9 p.m., at Atamaniuk Funeral Home, 40 Terrace St., Brattleboro. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 21, at 11 a.m. at St. Michael's Episcopal Church.
• Winnifred Helen Griffin Graffius, 79, of Brattleboro. Died in her sleep following a lengthy illness. Wife of Ivan Roy Graffius Sr. for 42 years. Mother of Beverly H Williams-Rubin and her husband, Arnold, of Pennsylvania; Bette J. Smith of Vermont; Robert A. Smith Jr. of Shelburne Falls, Mass.; and Bill A. Smith and his wife, Linda of North Carolina. Stepmother of Ivan R Graffius Jr. of Arizona; Sandra M Pollard of Massachusetts; Nadine Brooks and her husband, Jerry, of Florida; David Graffius of Tennessee; Daniel Graffius and his wife, Paula, of Massachusets; and Mark A Graffius and his wife, Martha, of New Mexico. Sister of Wilfred K. Griffin and his wife, Lillian, of Vermont, and Wendell Griffin of Massachusetts. Predeceased by a sister, Wavie Arel, and a stepdaughter, Cheryl Class. Worked at the Franklin Medical Center cafeteria, and was well known for her cooking abillity. Active member of the Gill Congregational Church and the Order of Eastern Star and Arcana Chapter No. 50 until her illness. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Aug. 11 in Greenfield, Mass., with burial in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery in Brattleboro. Donations to the Turners Falls Chapter No. 181, Order of Eastern Star, in care of Gertrude Woodard, PM-Treasurer, 62 Crocker Ave., Turners Falls, MA 01376. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family in care of McCarthy Funeral Homes at mccarthyfuneralhomes.com.
• Phyllis Marguerite Worthen Kent, 91, of Newfane. Died Aug. 15 at the Vernon Green Nursing Home. Wife of the late Raymond M. Kent and the late Donald F. Kent. Attended school in New London, N.H., and was a graduate of Colby Junior College. Owned and operated the Nutique Shop in Newfane, Vt., specializing in out of print books, and got great pleasure from the shop and its customers. Memorial information: A graveside service will be on held Aug. 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Newfane. Donations to the Newbrook Fire Dept. PO Box 77, Newfane, VT 05345.
• Richard C. Lowe Sr., 73, of Athens. Died Aug. 9 at Pine Heights in Brattleboro. Husband of Phyllis Hall and the late Giffard O'Connor. Father of Daniel Lowe of Westminster; Rick Lowe of Littleton, N.H.; Jim Lowe of Barnett; Debbie Fiske of Monroe, N.H.; and five step sons. Brother of George Lowe of Barre; Michael Lowe of Westminster; Edward Lowe of Westminster West; Mary Mitchell of Westminster West and stepbrothers Kenneth and John Babbitt, both of Putney. Predeceased by a son, Charles Lowe, and brothers James, William and Joseph Lowe. Served in the Navy during the Korean Conflict. Worked at the Cheese Plant in Bellows Falls, American Optical in Brattleboro, Unified Data in Grafton and Basketville in Putney. Memorial information: A graveside service was held Aug. 12 in the West Cemetery in Athens. Donations to the Community Christian Church of Athens.
• Kendall Query, 65, of Jamaica. Died Aug. 6. Memorial information: A celebration of life and a full military service will be held on Sept. 11, at 11:30 a.m. at the family home in Jamaica.
• Valerie E. Rugge, 78, formerly of West Dover. Died Aug. 6 in Rochester Hills, Mich., following a battle with Alzheimer's disease. Wife of the late John Rugge. Mother of John Rugge Jr. of Rochester, Mich.; Pam Gough of Ann Arbor, Mich.; and Linda Ray from Bakersfield, Calif. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa and met her husband at the age of 12 when they became pen pals. Member of the East Dover Baptist Church. Memorial information: A graveside service was held Aug. 11 at the family lot in Riverview Cemetery. Donations to the Alzheimer's Association in care of the Covey & Allen Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.
• Marion D. Shores, 74, of Guilford. Died Aug. 8 at home. Sister of William Shores and his wife Greta of Bernardston, Mass.; Richard Shores and his wife Deane of Springfield, N.H.; and Pauline Fritts of Springfield, N.H. Attended Bald Mountain School and Powers Institute in Bernardston, Mass., and then Peter Bent Brigham Hospital School of Radiologic Technology in Boston, Mass. Worked at North Adams (Mass.) Hospital, Hartford (Conn.) Hospital, Middlesex Memorial Hospital in Connecticut and then Newington (Conn.) Children's Hospital for 25 years. At Newington, she was assistant chief of radiology department and was a member of the Connecticut Society of Radiologic Technologists, where she was secretary for eight years, president elect, president, and spent three years on the board of directors. She returned to Bernardston in 1984 to care for her mother and moved to Guilford in 2003. Memorial information: A private graveside service will be held in Center Cemetery in Bernardston at the convenience of the family. Donations in her memory may be made to: Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice of Vermont and New Hampshire, 1 Hospital Court, Bellows Falls, VT 05101-1489.
• Saul Martin Silverman, 82, of Wilmington and So. Palm Beach, Fla. Died Aug. 6 at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington. Husband of Anne Marie Ferriter Silverman for 45 years. Brother of Robert Silverman of Wilmington. Grew up in New York City and was a self-employed clothing contractor who successfully operated several factories. Was a champion bridge player and loved doing crossword puzzles. Memorial information: A celebration of his life will be held at a time to be announced.
• Leo R. Talbot, Jr., 72, of North Walpole, N.H. Died Aug. 13 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Brother of Richard Talbot and his wife, Joan, of Pembroke, Mass.; Maureen Fanton and her husband Fred of Harpswell, Maine; and Anne Tomlinson and her husband Keith of Norwalk, Conn. Graduate of Bellows Falls High School, and attended Keene State College. Worked for Jones & Lamson Machine in Springfield, Vt., and Timken in Keene, N.H., until retirement. He was a member of the American Legion Post 37 in Bellows Falls and the Knights of Columbus in Keene. Memorial information: A funeral mass will be celebrated Thursday, Aug. 19, at 11 a.m., at St. Peters Church in North Walpole.
Births
• In Waltham, Mass., Aug. 9, 2010, a son, Ethan A. Martin, to Michelle and Jeff Martin; grandson to Chris and Suzanne Tabone of West Brattleboro.
• In Bel Air, Md. (Upper Chesapeake Medical Center), Aug. 7, 2010, a son, Kaleb Micah Batchelder, to Michelle (Sowden) and Jonathan Batchelder of Pylesville, Md.; grandson to Susan and Duane Holmquist of Vernon, Wayne Batchelder of Keene, N.H., and Terry and Darlene Sowden of Glen Burnie, Md.; great-grandson to Jane Billings of Northfield, Mass., Evelyn Batchelder of Keene, Eloine Holmquist of Brattleboro, and Betty Sowden of Roscoe, Pa.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), July 28, 2010, a daughter, Sophia Grace Beam, to Amy and Mike Beam of West Dover; granddaughter to George and Ilene Holden and Michael and Deborah Walsh.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), July 28, 2010, a son, Tyke Nathaniel Hamilton, to Sarah Ada (Kendall) and Mark Timothy Hamilton of Brattleboro; grandson to Mike and Tammie Kendall and Tim and Pat Hamilton, all of Brattleboro; great-grandson to Beatrice Kendall of Brattleboro and Joe and Judy Clement of Hinsdale, N.H.
• In Lebanon, N.H., (Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center), July 20, 2010, a daughter, Abigail Rose Parker, to Angel and Gary Parker Jr. of Brattleboro.
• In Port Orchard, Wash., June 18, 2010, a son, John J. Tabone, to Sean and Min Tabone; grandson to Chris and Suzanne Tabone of West Brattleboro.