Obituaries
• Walter Stewart “Walt” Allbee, 78, of Westminster. Died March 25, 2022. Walt, the son of Stewart and Margaret (Perry) Allbee, was born Sept. 26, 1943 in Bellows Falls. He was a graduate of Bellows Falls High School, Class of 1962. In 1968, he married Priscilla (Cote), and they made their home in Westminster and enjoyed summers together at Miles Pond in Concord, Vt. Walt had very fond memories of growing up on his family's farm in Westminster, where he gained his love and talent for animal care, farming, and building and fixing all things. He raised pairs of oxen and built carts to bring scraps from the diner across the road, with a seat to haul his brother Dave. He and Dave had many shenanigans together, including turning on the electric fence when the hired man was all wrapped up in a bundle of it. As a teenager, Walt worked at Brooks Sales Stables, getting horses off the train and caring for them. He acquired a horse named Lightning that no one else could handle and trained him. He enjoyed hunting, especially with his son Jason, and called himself the “Morse Brook Road Gun Walker,” because he didn't ever see any deer, but loved to be outdoors hunting. He also loved to work with his hands and could fix anything. He made beautiful bird houses and loved to tinker in his shop. He always kept the camp and the house in tip-top shape. Walt was an active member of the Top of the World ATV Club in Concord and enjoyed working on the trails and riding all over the Northeast Kingdom. He was always out riding with his sparkly red four-wheeler named “Big Ruby” that matched his daughter Alisa's named “Little Ruby.” He loved diesel pickups (the louder the better), and big loud Harleys. Walt worked with his brother-in-law, building and maintaining pools in the summer. When pool season was over, he was a school bus driver for the Windham Northeast Supervisory Union for 40 years. Walt was always there with a mischievous grin and a joke. He tooted his bus horn at different places around town every morning and afternoon. He loved to laugh. He loved a good story. He had an old Yankee sense of humor. He was quite fond of giving the “Allbee special wave” and gave this special wave to all of his dear friends. He loved good food and lots of it. He was always so appreciative of his wife's homemade bread, brownies, and other delicious creations, and he had the metabolism that could deal with at least one doughnut a day, plus many other goodies. Walter will be dearly missed by his family and friends, as well as the thousands of kids that grew up riding his bus. Walter is survived by his wife of nearly 54 years; a son, Jason Allbee and his wife, Andrea, of Brattleboro, a daughter, Alisa and her husband, Andy, of Westminster; his brother David and his wife, Claude, of Westminster; sisters-in-law Lori Miller and her husband, Dick, of Westminster, and Linda Veilleux and her husband, Gerry of Charlotte; brother-in-law Paul Cote of Concord, Vt., and several nieces and nephews that thought the world of him. He is also survived by his dog Patchie and cat Molly, whom he adored and his grand-dogs Ozzy, Winston, and Mileau, and the mini horses that live next door at Alisa's, Chiefy, Buttercup, and Colby. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Ginny. Memorial information: Services were held April 2 at Westminster Congregational Church. Donations to Westminster Cares, 3534 US-5, Westminster, VT 05158.
• Raymond S. Boyd, 93, of Whitingham. Died March 26, 2022 at his home. Raymond was born in Whitingham on March 30, 1928, the son of Merton C. Boyd and Nina (Morse) Boyd. He attended Schoolhouse #6 in Whitingham. Ray married Corrine (Stone) Boyd of Halifax in 1952. When they were dating, Ray would often visit Corrine at Castleton State College and pick her up in his 1937 Plymouth; they also enjoyed attending local dances together. As a young man, he worked on his father's farm before working for Harry Murdock, driving a truck for several years. He was also employed by the town of Whitingham as grader operator for 17 years and mowed roadsides with his Ford 8N tractor for over 50 years. He managed a gravel product business owned by George Rowen and also did his own excavating work. He was also known for doing general mechanic work and had a small farm in his earlier years. He enjoyed hunting, watching NASCAR racing, and was the chief mechanic for his younger brother Donnie who raced stock cars at Claremont (N.H.) Speedway in the 1960s and early 1970s. Ray greatly enjoyed carrying on the family tradition of sugaring and passed this tradition on to his son Mike and grandson Jesse. He was known for his witty sense of humor and was very knowledgeable regarding the town's history and the people who lived during earlier times. Ray is survived by his daughter Shirley J. (Boyd) Stratton of Bennington, son Michael E. Boyd of Whitingham, and daughter-in-law Cheryl (Bartlett) Boyd of Whitingham. He was one of nine children, survived by Florence (Crafts), Evelyn (Skaw), Robert, Donald and Marshall Boyd and Linda (Dix). He was preceded in death by two sisters, Margaret and Shirley. He is also survived by grandchildren Terri A. (Boyd) Gilbeau, Jesse E. Boyd, and Molly K. Brockway, nine great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Ray was preceded in death by his wife and sons Alan Raymond, Arnold Douglas, and Eric Gerald. Memorial information: Funeral services will be held at a later date. Donations to the Whitingham Historical Society or the Jacksonville Community Church, in care of Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.
• Edith Ludorf Clark, 98, formerly of Vernon. Died March 20, 2022 at the home of her daughter in Baytown, Texas, while under hospice care. Edith was born in Queens, N.Y., on May 28, 1923, the daughter of Robert and Edith (Gray) Kuhn. She was raised and educated in New York and was a graduate of Roosevelt High School, Class of 1941. She was employed for several years as a sales associate at the former Fishman's Store on Main Street in Brattleboro, and later worked in the kitchen at Vernon Green Nursing Home. A woman of faith, Edith was a longtime member of Vernon Union Church. Of her leisure time activities, she enjoyed her cats, crossword puzzles, music, playing the piano, and was an avid Red Sox and Celtics fan. In 1956, at Vernon Union Church, she was married to Charles M. Clark, who predeceased her in 2013. Survivors include her daughter, Janet Kathryn Ludorf Kearby of Baytown, a stepson, Ralph Hillman of Enfield, Conn., four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Edith's family extends special love and consideration to her niece, Felicia Kuhn of Vernon, and her family, for their help and care in the final years of Edith's life. Memorial information: Funeral services will be held at a future date and time to be announced by the funeral home. She will be laid to rest next to her husband in Stebbins Cemetery in Vernon. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To share a memory or send condolences, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Gordon H. Gowen, 95, of Acworth, N.H. Died March 24, 2022. He was born in Walpole, N.H. on Sept. 26, 1926, the third child of Harry B. and Abbie (Hutchinson) Gowen. He attended school in both Acworth and Alstead, graduating from Vilas High School in 1944. Gordon proudly served his country in the Army during World War II, enlisting as the war was coming to a close. He spent time in Japan as part of the postwar occupation force and, following his service, he graduated from Cornell University's agricultural school in 1952. Gordon married Elizabeth “Betty” (Geer) in 1953, and together they raised their four children on their family farm. Gordon was a leader in local and national agriculture for most of his life. He expanded his father's farm, transforming it into one of the most modern and progressive dairy and maple farms in the region. Gordon was involved in numerous agricultural organizations over many decades, and he proudly served as president of the New Hampshire State Farm Bureau for many years, as well as chair/president of the North American Maple Council, overseeing all of the maple producers in both the U.S. and Canada. He and Betty traveled all over the world as worthy ambassadors for all things agriculture. He was on the National Board of Directors for Farm Family Insurance, and he was also a lifelong member of the Grange. This is just a partial list of the many organizations that he was a part of during his long life and the many accomplishments that he achieved. Gordon loved music, dancing, singing and sports, to mention just a few. He and Betty met dancing at Benson's Barn Dance in Westminster West, and the rest is history, as they glided around the region's dance halls for decades. He sang in a cappella groups in college and, later, in local quartets and choruses. Gordon not only played baseball at Cornell and semi-pro baseball after returning home, but also remained a force on the men's softball fields of the area into his 70s. He also rarely missed watching his beloved Red Sox, as well as the Celtics and Patriots. Gordon loved to watch his kids and grandkids play sports and music! Most importantly, Gordon loved his family and friends and was never happier thab when the house was filled with laughter and lots of activity. He will be missed by all who knew him. Gordon was predeceased by his parents, his sister Natalie (Hurley) and brother Dana, and great grandson “Baby C.” He is survived by his wife of 68 years; his children Gail (Tom) of Fort Myers, Fla., Tim (Christine), Karen (Debi), and Dean (Wendy) of Acworth; and nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Memorial information: A funeral service was held on April 2 at the Church on the Hill in Acworth, followed by a burial at Acworth Cemetery with military honors. Donations to the Acworth Memorial Park or Friends of the Acworth Meeting House.
• Shirley Ann Hendrick, 100, of Brattleboro. Died at Pine Heights in Brattleboro on March 27, 2022, her 100th birthday. She was born in Grand Forks, N.D., the oldest child of Harold and Donna Buckingham. She attended high school in White Plains, N.Y., and graduated from the University of Vermont, where she met her husband, Joseph Hendrick. They married in 1944. Because of Joe's career in the oil industry, he and Shirley moved 17 times as they raised their two sons, David and Jeffrey, and daughter Lesley. Shirley retired from a career in banking in Houston and moved to Newfane in 1992. She was very accomplished at needlecrafts and especially enjoyed quilting, knitting and dollmaking. Her quilts and dolls were displayed at the Moore Free Library in Newfane, and she made countless baby quilts for family and friends. Shirley enjoyed participating in several sewing and quilting groups that raised funds for local projects with their creations. She was a member of Newfane Congregational Church, volunteered at Grace Cottage Hospital, and loved her brookside home. Shirley was predeceased by her husband Joe in 1973, older son Dave in 2014, and her siblings Pat Ballou and Richard and Ralph Buckingham. She is survived by her daughter Lesley Blackburn and son-in-law Phil of Brattleboro, son Jeff Hendrick and daughter-in-law Joan Feinberg of Boston, and daughter-in-law Emily Hendrick of Atlanta. She is also survived by grandchildren Christina Melton and husband Jamar, Andrew Hendrick, Matthew Blackburn and wife Maggie Anderson, and Meredith Blackburn and fiancé Jesse McManus. Four great-grandsons also survive: Jack, Anders, and Wils Melton and Leo Blackburn. Memorial information: A graveside memorial will be held on Saturday, July 2, at 10 a.m. at Woodlawn Cemetery in Newfane, followed by an informal gathering at 677 Black Mountain Road in Brattleboro. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend, Newfane Church, or Bradley House in Brattleboro. Ker-Phaneuf Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. To view an online tribute, leave a message of condolence or for more information, visit www.phaneuf.net.
• Helen W. Newton, 80, of Swanton. Died March 26, 2022. She was born on Nov. 28, 1941 at Rockingham Memorial Hospital in Bellows Falls, the second child of Timothy Arthur Williams and Dorothy (Morrison) Williams. Helen completed grade school in Newfane and attended Brattleboro Union High School, graduating with honors in 1959. She attended the University of Vermont, graduating in 1963 with a B.S. in education, an M.A. in teaching in 1967 and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Administration and Planning in 1981. She also had a full semester at the University of London in conjunction with a program sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh. She first met her husband to be, John, who was the tuba player for the Brattleboro town band, when the band played an out-of-town engagement at Dummerston. The courtship continued during her college years and a marriage proposal was accepted and a date was set based on John's anticipated completion of his active-duty military service. John's service time was nearly complete when he was involuntarily extended by one year over some long-forgotten international crisis. But the marriage plans would not be interrupted and in 1962, Helen and John were united in marriage in the little brown church in Williamsville. Helen and John then moved to John's duty station at Fort Gordon, Ga., and Helen attended one semester at Paine College in Augusta. In January of 1963, Helen and John returned to Vermont and to the Burlington area to finish her degree at UVM. John found work at Fonda Container in St. Albans and, after her graduation from UVM, Helen was offered a teaching position at Bellows Free Academy-St. Albans, which she accepted. They moved to St. Albans and never left. Helen went on to become head of BFA's English department and initiated an advanced English vocabulary course which proved to be very popular and useful with college bound students. She retired in 1995 after 33 years of teaching. In 1968 Helen and John purchased a summer camp on Lake Champlain, where they spent summers for the 52 years they owned it. In 1970, they purchased a home on Prospect Hill, which they lived in for 32 years before moving to a condo in Swanton in 2003. Helen and John had multiple opportunities to travel, and they did. They were chaperones for several student exchange programs and also traveled extensively on their own, with major trips to Alaska, England, France, Germany with a rail trip through much of Europe, to Australia, Russia with Project Harmony, and Turkey, with his sister and niece. Also, they discovered the joys of cruising with many repeat cruises, mostly in the Caribbean. Helen was predeceased by her parents, her brother Lawrence, sister-in-law June (Brown) Williams, and nephews Douglas and Donald Williams. She is survived by her husband and by several nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and nephews. Memorial information: A celebration of her life will be held on Thursday, April 7, from 3 to 6 p.m., at the Bliss Room in the St. Albans Museum, with prayer service to be offered at 6 p.m. She will be interred at a later date in the Norwich University cemetery. Donations to the John A. and Helen W. Newton Scholarship Fund at the University of Vermont Foundation, 411 Main St., Burlington, VT 05401, or to any educational organization of your choice.
• Sonya Majdak Searles, 87, of New Wilmington, Pa., formerly of Brattleboro. Died at home on March 20, 2022, following an extended period of declining health. Born on Dec. 13, 1934, the daughter of Joseph Michael Majdak and Sophie Chmura Majdak, Sonya grew up in the Fort Dummer neighborhood of Brattleboro and graduated from Brattleboro High School in 1952, where she was a cheerleader. In 1956, she married the love of her life, Francis Eugene (Gene) Searles, who predeceased her in 2006. Sonya and Gene made their home on Horton Place in Brattleboro, where they lived until Gene's death. Sonya worked for the Holstein Association until welcoming her daughters, Ann and Amy. Once the girls were grown, Sonya went to work for Dr. Raymond L. Mariani, where she remained for 38 years. Sonya loved her job and “Doc", and she continued working until she moved to Pennsylvania to be with her daughter Ann and her beloved son-in-law, Bob. Sonya loved a good margarita, a dirty joke, diamonds, dancing, and the beach, and she especially cherished her yearly vacations with her best friend, Jean Savory. She is survived by her daughters Ann Minner and her husband, Bob Minner, of New Wilmington, Pa., and Amy O'Brien of Edgartown, Mass.; grandchildren Todd Minner, Sonya Minner, Michael O'Brien, and Jack O'Brien; beloved nephews Gary Corey and Steve Zaluzny; and a niece, Christine Fredericks. Memorial information: Services are planned for a later date.
• Bonnie L. (Davidson) Stansberry, 60, of Brattleboro. Died unexpectedly on March 15, 2022. Bonnie was born in Brattleboro on August 5, 1961 to Robert Davidson, Sr., and the late Catherine Davidson and biological mother Norma (Emmons) Rippeon. Bonnie is survived by her fiancée Claiton Patrick, daughter Nicole Rachel-Elvira Kissell, brother Robert Davidson, Jr., and his wife Lisa Davidson, niece Sara-Ann, sister Kelly Davidson and her son Shayne, her aunt and uncle Mr. and Mrs. David Davidson Sr., aunt and uncle Mr. and Mrs. Howard Crown, and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Memorial information: A graveside service will take place at a later date. The Cremation Society of New Hampshire has been entrusted with arrangements. To view an online tribute, leave a message of condolence or for more information, visit www.csnh.com.
• Lynn Mason Trowbridge, 79, of Brattleboro. Died peacefully on March 19, 2022, from Parkinson's Disease. Lynn was born April 29, 1942, in Port Washington, N.Y., to William and Madeline Trowbridge. He earned a BFA in music performance and music education from Carnegie Mellon, as well as a Master's and Ph.D. in musicology from the University of Illinois. Lynn had a long and varied career in both music and technology. He taught the French horn to many students. He was a professor at American University, where he rose to chairman of the Department of Performing Arts and Director of Music. He played the French horn in several orchestras through the years, including the Georgetown Symphony, the Arlington Symphony, the Prince George Philharmonic, and the Pan American Symphony Orchestra. He was the author of several scholarly papers on the use of technology and software to analyze classical music and eventually moved from academia into technology. He was a programmer and analyst for a handful of federal government agencies and worked for McDonald Bradley, Cincinnati Bell, Vanguard Technologies, and Computer Based Systems, Inc. Lynn retired to Brattleboro in 1998, but he did not actually retire. He taught French horn and music theory at the Brattleboro Music Center, where he was also a trustee. He was the principal horn in the Windham Orchestra and in the Sage City Symphony in Bennington. He was a kind man who was so much more than his credentials. He liked to opine on great moments in history, as well as the finer points of his favorite symphonies. He always sang along, humming and bopping to the various parts of Mahler and Beethoven, the way most people would sing along to a Top 40 hit on the radio. His grandchildren thought this was hilarious and will always remember it. Lynn made an excellent Old Fashioned. He muddled his oranges as if his professional reputation depended on it. His was much sweeter than the Old Fashioneds most places serve, but Lynn insisted that his was the right way. The best way. Really, he just knew how he liked them. Lynn was known for his meticulous attention to detail. If he decided to do a project, it was worth doing to exact specifications. He also had a preternatural ability to keep outdated technology working and in perfect condition. He is survived by Nancy, his wife of 55 years, his son, Erich (Denise), and grandchildren, Sid, 12, and Ray, 13, as well as friends, musicians, and colleagues from years past. All love him and will miss him. He is preceded in death by his parents and his younger sister, Eileen. Memorial information: No public services will be held, but donations can be made in his memory to the Brattleboro Music Center.
• Jacquelyn S. “Jacquie” Walker, 90, of Putney. Died peacefully on March 23, 2022 in the presence of her beloved husband of 36 years, Steve Anderson, and their dedicated and compassionate caregiver, Maria Buscaglia. She left this earth on her journey into the unknown after 90 years of loving and caring service to family, friends, and community. Jacquie was born and raised in New Jersey, the daughter of Lawrence Gabriel and Caro Walker Sovulewski. She attended West Orange High School and Denison University in Ohio. After college, she made her home in Mendham, N.J., with her first husband, Richard Walker. Together they raised four children: Linda Penn (Guilford, Conn.), Sharon Walker (Bothell, Wash.), Keith Walker (Las Vegas, Nev.), and Steven Walker (deceased, 2014). During her years in Mendham, Jacquie maintained an active community presence which included her membership/leadership in the local American Association of University Women, Mendham Board of Education (first woman to serve on that Board), Girl Scout leadership, church life, and through her employment with Planned Parenthood of Northern New Jersey as a program director. Throughout her life, Jacquie enjoyed sports, including tennis, golf, swimming, hiking, cross-country skiing ,and a snowy hill for sledding with family and friends. Following the end of her first marriage, Jacquie moved to Vermont in 1981 to be with her childhood friend, Steve, and joined him in his Chimney Sweep business. They were married in 1986 and Vermont became her new home. Steve's three children, Judy Anderson (Kinderhook, N.Y.), Teja Anderson (Beverly Hills, Calif.), and Daniel Anderson (Queens, N.Y.) became an important part of the new blended family. Soon after their marriage, Jacquie and Steve purchased Hickory Ridge House, a gracious Federal period house in Putney which they ran as a B&B for 16 years. During their time as innkeepers, they made many new and lasting friendships both local and distant. Once again, she eagerly engaged in community service: co-chair of the River Valley Performing Arts Center, founding member of Next Stage Arts, volunteering at the Putney Central School's ELF and School Forest programs, and as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. She was an active member of the Putney Mountain Association board for two decades. In her spare time, Jacquie took up potting and kept her family and friends supplied with lovely bowls, plates, cups, and teapots, fondly known as Jacquie Ware. Fulfilling her love of music with Steve, Jacquie was an enthusiastic member of the River Valley Singers for two decades. Their time with that group included travel to Bosnia, taking the joy of music to the survivors of war. Their years at the inn, and subsequent retirement allowed them to pursue their love of travel and passion to learn about different cultures. Among the places they visited were China, Turkey, Morocco, and many eastern and western European countries - as well as regular visits to Maine. Jacquie also found great joy from regular visits with her large, blended family which included 11 grandchildren. Her adventurous spirit and joie de vivre will be dearly missed by all. Memorial information: A memorial service will be planned at a later date. Donations to the Putney Mountain Association (putneymountain.org) or Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (weareplannedparenthood.org).