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.
• Helen Parda Aiken, 93, of Westminster West. Died Feb. 2 at her home. Wife of the late Maynard Aiken. Mother of Shirley Fish, Charles Aiken and Frank Aiken. Memorial information: There will be no service. Donations to Westminster Cares, P.O. Box 312, Westminster, VT 05158.
• Geneva E. Blanchard, 89, of Keene, N.H., formerly of Peterborough, N.H. Died Dec. 18 at Langdon Place in Keene. Wife of the late Creighton I. Blanchard for 30 years. Mother of Linda Willard Oja of Dublin, N.H. Sister of Rita Gallipo of Rutland and Eleanor (Robert) Hall of Orwell. Predeceased by a brother, Gordon Hescock of Vernon, and an infant sister. Born in Wilmington, the daughter of Claude and Bertha Mason Hescock, and was a graduate of Rutland High School, Class of 1940. Memorial information: Cremation Society of New Hampshire was in charge of arrangements. Private committal services will be held in the spring.
• Walter J. Brooks, 75, of Springfield, Vt. Died Feb. 4 at Springfield Hospital. Father of Walter Brooks Jr., Kenyon Brooks, and Danny Brooks; and Walter Otero, and his daughters Lisa Brooks, Bridgett Otero, and Felicia Otero; all whom reside in Bennington. Predeceased by his brother, Frances Brooks, and his step-father, Danny Sweet, also of Bennington. Born in Bennington, son of the late Daisy Violet Allen and the late Charles Bushee. Worked as a janitor and a dishwasher in various local businesses, and was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and the Springfield Family Center. Memorial information: Calling hours were held on Feb. 10 at Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls.
• Etta M. Dodge, 74, of Brattleboro. Died Feb. 6 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Wife of the late Sgt. Major Ashley Orville Dodge. USMC. Mother of Brian A. Dodge of Worthington, Mass.; Kevin J. Dodge of Hinsdale, N.H., Bruce A. Dodge of West Brattleboro; and Kolleen Dodge of West Brattleboro. Sister of Elizabeth “Betty” Stark of West Brattleboro. Born in Brattleboro, the daughter of the late Everett and Marian Davidson Akley. Worked many different places, including Fuzzy Fur in Hinsdale, N.H., and Bickfords Manufacturing in Winchester, N.H. She was assistant manager at the former Ames Department Store in Brattleboro, and also worked at Sam's in Brattleboro. Was a member of the Hinsdale VFW Auxiliary, the Eagles Auxiliary, and the Pocahontas Auxiliary of Greenfield, Mass. She was active in her church and enjoyed gardening, birds, sewing, shopping, and family. Memorial information: Services were held at Ker Westerlund Funeral Home in Brattleboro on Feb. 12. Burial will be at the West Brattleboro Cemetery later this spring. Donations to the Canal Street Head Start School Program, in care of Early Education Services, 130 Birge St., Brattleboro, VT 05301; American Heart Association, Vermont Affiliate, 77 Hegeman Ave., Burlington, VT 05401; American Lung Association, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20004, or Paralyzed Veterans of America, Donation Processing Center, 7 Mill Brook Rd. Wilton, NH 03086.
• Allison Archie Gleason Sr., 88, of Keene, N.H. Died Feb. 7 at Genesis Elder Care in Keene, N.H. Husband of the late Bertha Tonseth. Father of Allison (Jack) Gleason Jr. of Bellows Falls; Archie Gleason of Chester; Margaret Gleason of Pasadena, Md.; Kathy Lawrence of Keene; and Julie Compagna of Morristown. Born in Lake Port, N.H., the son of Archie and Ethel (Williams) Gleason, he was a graduate of Keene High School and Keene Teachers College, then went on to teach at Bellows Falls High School. He also served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a member of the Elks, the Masons, the Odd Fellows, and the Bellows Falls Fire Department. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Feb. 11 at the Congregational Church in Bellows Falls.
• Jill Noss Hayes, 61, of Putney. Died Jan. 29 at Grace Cottage Hospital. Wife of Thomas Hayes. Former wife of Frederic Masco. Mother of Eliza Masco. Stepmother of Mariah Hayes. Predeceased by a sister, Rita. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, daughter of the late Harvey and Mary Noss, she graduated from Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights, Ohio, attended the Rhode Island School of Design, and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Was a member of the Green Mountain Horse Association, and the Putney Craft Tour. A talented artist and photographer, she was best known for her “Dining In Vermont” poster. She was also an avid equine enthusiast and spent many years as a certified riding instructor. Memorial information: A celebration of her life was Feb. 13 at The Putney School. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital, P.O. Box 1, Townshend, VT 05353.
• Bernard R. Potter, 79, of Guilford. Died Feb. 12 at home. Husband of Cynthia (Bacon) Potter for 43 years. Father of Catherine Potter, the late Stephen Potter, Heather McPhail, Karen Peterson, Jennifer McCarthy, Laura Potter Thomas, and Alexander Potter; grandfather of Jessica Ernst, Desiree Wright, Brandon Peterson, Spenser Peterson, Zachary Peterson, Grayson Peterson, Amanda McCarthy, Dakota McCarthy, Emily Potter, Jane Potter, Max Potter-Earle and Carrie Potter-Earle; great grandfather of Dimitri Audette, Samantha Audette, Peyton Wright, Rylan Ernst and Zoe Peterson. Brother of Barbara Johnson and Doris Bascom. Predeceased by brothers Clayton, Earl and Frederick Potter. Served in the Army in Germany from 1953 until 1955. Worked in farming and lumber for many years, followed by a 20 year career at Cersosimo Lumber Co. Memorial information: A remembrance service was held Feb. 16 at Dummerston Congregational Church. Donations to Guilford Cares or the American Cancer Society.
• Jerome B. Rawson, 82, formerly of Lecanto, Fla. Died Feb. 6 at Vernon Green Nursing Home. Husband of the late Purlys Bolster. Former husband of June McIntyre. Father of Rick and Marge Rawson, Alvin and Sandy Rawson, Tim and Lori Rawson, Tom and Kendra Brooks, Greg and Rayleen Marcucci, and Scott and Laurie Rawson. Son of the late Ethelbert and Cecil (Capen) Rawson. Brother of Alfred, Ralph, Hugh and Robert Rawson, Arlene Trapini, Christie Hidy, Ruth LaFogg, and Maude Gabert. Predeceased by a sister, Joan Prouty. Served in the Army Air Corps from 1945 to 1948. Worked as a skilled carpenter at the Bromley, Stratton, and Okemo ski resorts. He was a member of the American Legion of Londonderry and Crystal River, Fla., and was also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. For many years, he was a Little League and Babe Ruth baseball coach in the Londonderry area, and he loved watching the Patriots and the Red Sox play. He also loved hunting, camping and large family gatherings. Memorial information: A funeral service will be held in the spring at Pleasant View Cemetery in Jamaica. Donations may be sent to Grace Cottage Hospital.
Births
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Feb. 9, 2011, a daughter, Annastacia Marie Harvey, to Samantha LaValley and Kyle Harvey of Hinsdale, N.H.; granddaughter to Daniele LaValley, Mark LaValley, and Maureen and Bill Harvey; great-granddaughter to Ocean Adams, Eric Adams, Hazel LaValley and Jim LaValley.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Feb. 4, 2011, a daughter, Ursula Brewster Homestead, to Meghan Houlihan and William Homestead of Putney; grandson to Wendy Houlihan of Brattleboro and Michael Houlihan of Traverse City, Mich.; and Ruth and Herbert Homestead of Lake Luzerne, N.Y.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Jan. 29, 2011, a daughter, Alyvia Ann Howard, to Jasmine Fosburgh and Tyler Howard of Vernon; granddaughter to Kevin and Elaine Howard of Vernon, Phil Fosburgh, Tammi Anthony of Keene, N.H., Kim Dansereau of Chicopee, Mass., great-granddaughter to Diane Bedard of Hinsdale, N.H., Shaun and Cindy Fosburgh of Florida, Joe Bedard of Vernon, and Sam and Ginny Howard of Vernon.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Jan. 25, 2011, a son, Wyatt Walter Amidon, to Alison (Clark) and Jesse Amidon of Putney; grandson to David and Laurie Noyes, Phil Clark and Laurie Ulitsch, and Walter and Sherry Amidon; great-grandson to Jane French, George and Fran Clark, and Mary Bolster.
• In Greenfield, Mass., (Baystate Franklin Medical Center), Jan. 6, 2011, a daughter, Havilah Amelie Altstadt, to Jessica (Bashford) and David Altstadt of Brattleboro; granddaughter to Bob and Debbie Bashford of Brattleboro, and Ron and Judy Altstadt of Westlake, Ohio.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Nov. 18, 2010, a daughter, Ayla Jeanne Montgomery, to Amanda and Jeremy Montgomery of West Chesterfield, N.H.; granddaughter to Gary and Christine Montgomery of Chesterfield, N.H., the late Deborah Montgomery, Zoa Given of Brattleboro, and Tony Zuccale of West Chesterfield; great-granddaughter to Cecelia Trombley of Brattleboro, and Mildred Van Tassell of Westmoreland, N.H.
College news
• Amber Cox of Whitingham, and Tyler Dallas of South Londonderry, were named to the Dean's List at Paul Smith's (N.Y.) College during the fall 2010 semester. Both are enrolled in the college's School of Forestry and Natural Resources.
• The following students were named to the Johnson State College Dean's List for the fall 2010: Becky M. Molina of Brattleboro and Phillip C. Brown of Londonderry, both seniors in the External Degree Program; Jessica A. Brodeur of Brookline, a sophomore in majoring in Art with elementary and secondary teacher licensure; Jack M Frelich-Sobel of Putney, a senior majoring in Anthropology and Sociology; Brendon S. Vincent of Stratton, a freshman majoring in Music with a concentration in jazz; and Nina L. Markiw of West Brattleboro, a junior majoring in Studio Arts.
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