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.
• Robert “Bob” W. Adams, 85, of Bellows Falls. Died Dec. 2, at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend. Graduate of Bellows Falls High School. Served in the Army during World War II, and from 1944 to 1946, he worked on the Army's military railroad in the Philippines. Worked for the Rutland Railroad for 18 years, and was also an authorized Lionel electric train repairman and clock repairman. After the Rutland's demise, he was hired by avid rail fan F. Nelson Blount, the founder of Steamtown USA, to create the steam train museum and excursion railroad in Bellows Falls. He eventually helped Blount start the Green Mountain Railroad in 1965. After Blount's death in a plane crash in 1967, he became the majority shareholder of the Green Mountain and was its president from 1968 until 1978. He served on the GMR's board of directors until 1993. Memorial information: A funeral service was held on Dec. 6 at Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls, with burial in Oak Hill Cemetery.
• Kenneth Edward Brooke, 80, of Marlboro. Died Nov. 29 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Husband of Margaret Nicholson for 50 years. Father of Carol Brooke-deBock and husband, Will, of Marlboro; Ellen Wanless and husband, Bill, of Seattle; and John Brooke and his partner, Monique Lary, of Atlanta. Born in Dallas and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, where he was a graduate of Roosevelt High School, Class of 1948. Attended Northwestern University, where he earned his B.S. in business administration. Was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving as a Navy aviator stationed in Japan and surviving a plane crash into the Pacific Ocean. After completing his active duty service, he served in the Naval Reserve. Worked in computer technology for I.B.M and co-owned and operated Creative Systems Interface, a computer systems consulting business located in Massachusetts. Was a lifelong Christian Scientist and had attended the Christian Science Church in Brattleboro. Memorial information: A private funeral service was held for the family. Donation to The Gathering Place, 30 Terrace Street, Brattleboro, VT. 05301.
• Ellen (O'Prey) Clancy, 88, of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 28 at home. Wife of the late Joseph F. Clancy for 51 years. Mother of Joseph T. Clancy of Lido Beach, N.Y.; Daniel P. Clancy of Brattleboro; James J. Clancy of Long Beach, N.Y.; and Ellen P. Clancy of Brattleboro, with whom she lived the past eight years. Predeceased by a brother, Richard O'Prey. Born in Castlewellen, County Down, Ireland and grew up in New York City. Worked for New York Telephone for 20 years. Was active in the 82nd Airborne Association, the unit her husband served in during World War II, for many years. Spent her retirement years in Bayonet Point, Fla., before coming to Brattleboro. Memorial information: A memorial Mass was celebrated on Dec. 1 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro, with burial on Dec. 3 in Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Fla. Donations to the Reformer Christmas Stocking, P.O. Box 703, Brattleboro, VT 05302-0703.
• Kylie Alexis Gay-Rounds, infant, of Bellows Falls. Was stillborn Nov. 24 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Daughter of Nicole Kristen Gay of Bellows Falls and Ryan Miller Rounds (currently serving in Afghanistan) of Westminster. Grandaughter of Regina Amidon and Allyn Olney of Bellows Falls, Robert Gay III of Springfield and Orland and Terrilee Rounds of Westminster and Annalee Webber, all of Westminster. Great-grandaughter of Reginald and Judy Amidon of Brattleboro, Robert Jr. and Joyce Gay of North Westminster, and Harley and Cheryl Rounds and JoAnne and Danny Muzzey, all of Westminster. Memorial information: A funeral service will be held at Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls at a later date. Burial will follow in the Saxtons River Cemetery.
• Barbara W. Hewes, 77, of Brattleboro. Died Dec. 3 at her home. Wife of Norman F. Hewes for 54 years. Mother of Nathan Hewes and his wife, Barbara (Kaeppel), of Charlestown, N.H. Raised and educated in Brattleboro and was a graduate of Brattleboro High School, Class of 1951. Worked her entire career in the printing business as a proofreader starting work at the Brattleboro Reformer and later working for Page Setters, American Stratford, Country Journal Magazine and Publishers Composition. aAso worked out of her home proof reading for Allyn and Bacon, Inc., and for several other publishers. She retired in 1998, but continued to do proof reading and editing for the author “Happy Hugo” on the Internet. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Dec. 7 at Atamaniuk Funeral Home in Brattleboro with burial in Christ Church Cemetery in Guilford. Donations to Visiting Nurse Association of Vermont, P.O. Box 976, White River Jct. VT 05001-0976., or Brattleboro Area Hospice, 191 Canal Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301. Condolences may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Kenneth Edward “Ken” Lane, 80, of Brattleboro. Died Dec. 1. Husband of Juanita Pond for 45 years. Father of Alberta Seale and husband, Mike; and Jean Gilbeau and husband, Aaron, all of Brattleboro. Predeceased by a son, Kenneth E. Lane Jr.; three brothers, Chester, Arnold and Eugene Lane; one sister, Eva Nesbitt and a half sister, Lorene O'Bryan. Raised and educated in Brattleboro, he served in the Navy during the Korean Conflict on the USS Douglas Fox. Was employed at C&S Wholesale Grocers, where he retired from in 1992. Previously worked at Boise Cascade for 17 years and for APW/Concel for 10 years. Graduated from Christ For the Nation Bible Institute in Stony Brook, N.Y. in 1991, and went on to serve as co-director of Mercy Ministries, a food and clothing ministry of Agape Christian Fellowship, which he managed with his wife. Was a member and served as a deacon at Agape Christian Fellowship. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Dec. 4 at the Green Mountain Chapel; burial with full military honors will follow in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery. Donations to Mercy Ministries, in care of Agape Christian Fellowship, 30 Canal St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. Condolences may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Joyce Anne Pfenning, 77, of Vernon. Died Nov. 29, 2010 at Vernon Green Nursing Home. Wife of Bradford A. Pfenning for 56 years. Mother of Cheryl P. Deyo and husband, Peter, of Vernon; and Gay Pfenning, also of Vernon. Sister of Gail Pelkey of Springfield, Vt. Predeceased by sisters Shirley Redo, Barbara Hall, and Gladys Chadbourne. Graduate of Springfield High School, Class of 1950, and Castleton State College, where she earned her B.S. degree in teaching. Was the school secretary at Vernon Elementary School for 17 years, retiring in 1992. Previously worked as a secretary for 10 years at Brattleboro Union High School, and taught at both Green Street School and Canal Street School. Memorial information: Funeral services were held Dec. 6 at Vernon Christian Advent Church with burial in Tyler Cemetery. Donations to Vernon Advent Christian Home, 61 Greenway Drive, Vernon, VT 05354, or to The Gathering Place, 30 Terrace St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. Condolences may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Emelea “Bobbie” (Gonder) Ward, 99, of Vernon. Died Dec. 1 at Vernon Green Nursing Home, 11 days shy of her 100th birthday. Wife of the late Alexander T. Ward. Predeceased by two brothers, Henry and Herman Gonder. Survived by four generations of nieces and nephews.Born and raised in Jersey City, N.J., she was employed at the Hallmark Card Co. for 21 years, retiring in 1975. An avid square dancer, she belonged to the Lone Star Square Dancers, and was invited to perform in Kyoto, Japan.. Memorial information: A graveside service was held on Dec. 6 at Springfield (Mass.) Cemetery, Springfield, Mass.
Births
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Nov. 18, 2010, a daughter, Ryanne Jane Marie Edson, to Amber Lara and James J. Edson of Hinsdale, N.H.; grandaughter to Ramona Hervieux, Penny and John Corliss, and Jim and Anna Edson.
College news
• Colin Hinckley, from Putney, is a first-year student this fall at Pace University's New York City campus.