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 Clayton Anderson, 67, of Bonita Springs, Fla., and Northfield, Mass. Died March 28 at his Florida home. Husband of Mary A. McCollum) Anderson for 42 years. Father of Victoria B. Anderson of Brattleboro; Troy M. (Tina) Anderson of Ft. Myers, Fla.; and Clayton R. Anderson of Bonita Springs, Fla. Brother of Byron Anderson, Dorothy Dow and Deryl Anderson, all of Brattleboro, and Lorraine Whitten of California. Born in Hinsdale, N.H., the son of the late Charles and Edith Grover Anderson, he served in the Marines during the Vietnam War. Worked at Putney Paper Co. in Putney, and retired from Erving Paper in Erving, Mass. He will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor, his artistic ability and many funny drawings and captions. He was a handyman and helped everyone with projects from plumbing to carpentry to auto repair. His favorite hobby was fishing in the Gulf of Mexico in Florida and the trout streams of New England. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on April 6 at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, in Bonita Springs. A memorial service will be held at Green River Cemetery in Greenfield, Mass., this summer. Donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Rd., second Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814 or the Lee County Animal Services, 5600 Banner Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33912.
• Leonard “Pete” Johnson, 89, of Wilmington. Died March 27 at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington. Husband of the late Mary Howe for 67 years. Father of Pamela Johnson Holden of Casco, Maine. Brother of Robert Johnson of Brattleboro. Predeceased by his sons, Scott Warren Johnson and Peter Mason Johnson. Born in Wilmington, the son of Mason and Marjorie (Temple) Johnson, he is a graduate of Wilmington High school and Brooklyn Polytech Institute. Served in World War II in the Army Air Corps as a flight officer on B-26 bombers. After the war, he owned and operated Parmelee and Howe in Wilmington with his brother-in-law from 1951 until it closed in 1994. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting and fishing, and loved to fish the rivers in New Brunswick during the salmon run. Served as a member of the Wilmington School Board in the 1950s, and was Wilmington's Fire Chief in the 1960s. He was a member of the Deerfield Valley Rod and Gun Club, the Weston Trout Club and was also a 57-year member of The Free & Accepted Masons in Wilmington. He was twice Grand Marshall of the Wilmington Old Home Days parade. Memorial information: A graveside funeral service was held March 30 at the family lot in Riverview Cemetery in Wilmington. Donations to the Scott Johnson Scholarship Fund, through the Wilmington Congregational Church; or the Peter Johnson Fund, through the Deerfield Valley Sportsman Club, in care of Covey & Allen Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363. Messages of condolence may be sent to www.sheafuneralhomes.com.
• Richard S. Johnson Sr., 85, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died March 28 at his home. Husband of Marjorie Anderson for 61 years. Father of David and his wife, Mary, of Northfield, Mass.; Richard Jr. and his wife, Cathy, and Robert and his wife, Karen, both of Hinsdale; Susan Dejnak and her husband, Peter, of Swanzey, N.H.; and Nancy Wright of Keene, N.H. Born in Brattleboro, the son of Paul W. Johnson and Alta Snow Johnson, he graduated in 1944 from Hinsdale High School and from the University of New Hampshire in 1949. He served in the Army Air Force from 1944 to 1945. Worked for A.C. Lawrence Leathers in Winchester, N.H., and H.W. Taylor Hardware Store in Hinsdale. He was a past member of the Hinsdale School Board, and a past member of IMC. Enjoyed gardening and fishing. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held May 14 at 11:30 a.m. in the Hinsdale Community Center. Burial will take place at Pine Grove Cemetery in Hinsdale. Donations to First Congregational Church, P.O. Box 22, Hinsdale, NH 03451 or the Hinsdale High School Alumni Scholarship Fund, c/o Judy Barnes, 50 Old Stage Rd., Hinsdale, NH 03451.
• Mary Catherine Kmet, 94, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died March 29 at her home. Wife of the late Michael Kmet for 23 years. Mother of Mary Kmet-Campbell of Spofford, N.H., and Peter N. Kmet of Tumwater, Wash. Born in Brattleboro, the daughter of Michael and Mary (Oiselecht) Wrobel, she attended St. Michael's Parochial School. She had worked during her earlier years at the former Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates on Cotton Mill Hill, waitressed at the former Howard Johnson's Restaurant on Putney Road, and worked as a housekeeper for St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Hinsdale. She was also a devoted homemaker who took much pride in her home. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, crocheting, sewing, and going on senior bus trips. A devout Catholic, she was a communicant at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Memorial information: A funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph's Church in Hinsdale. Burial will be in Saint Joseph's Cemetery later in the spring. Donation to Meals on Wheels of Keene, 312 Marlboro St., Keene, NH 03431 or to St. Joseph's Church, c/o Mary Queen of Peace Parish, 161 Main St., Keene, NH 03431. Messages of condolence may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Floyd C. LaFoe Sr., 84, of Bellows Falls. Died March 31 at his home. Father of Floyd C., LaFoe Jr. and wife, Nancy of Bellows Falls; and three daughters, Irma, Theresa and Sherry. Born in Greensboro Bend, the son of Leon and Daisy Hodsdens LaFoe, he worked for Harry Gordon scrap iron for 18 years, as well as Dairy Transport and La Foe scrap iron and metal. Memorial information: A memorial service was held April 6, 2011 at Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls.
• Linda Anne Danico Lamothe, 59, of Charlestown, N.H. Died March 26. Wife of Ray C. Lamothe for nearly 35 years. Sister of Francis H. Danico and his wife, Elizabeth, of Braintree, Mass.; and Ronald Danico of Rutland. Born in Bellows Falls, the daughter of the late Francis C. and Theresa E. Smith Danico, she graduated in 1969 from Bellows Falls High School. Worked for St. Johnsbury Trucking Co. for almost 23 years as an office manager. She also worked for Gay's Fuel Service in Bellows Falls. Enjoyed music, talking books and animals, especially cats. She was a member of the Springfield Humane Society and the American Legion Auxiliary in Bellows Falls. Memorial information: A memorial service was held April 1 at Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls. Donations to the Springfield Humane Society, Skitchewaug Trail, Springfield, VT 05156.
• Alicia Beals Ogden, 92, of Sutton, formerly of Brattleboro. Died March 28 at Maple Lane Nursing Home in Barton. Husband of the late Arthur Leon Ogden for 35 years, and the late Emerson Thomas. Mother of Neil Ogden of Sutton. Predeceased by siblings Francese Smith, Marion Canedy, Shirley Sebert, and Charles and Harry Beals. Born at the Beals farm in Guilford, the daughter of Arthur and Elsie Hawkins Beals, she was a graduate of Brattleboro High School, class of 1936. She was active in the Guilford Grange for many years, and the Ogdens were one of the first members that started the Guilford Recreation Club and were responsible for starting one of the men's baseball teams. She was a member of the Guilford Historical Society, the Guilford Fair Association and the Broad Brook Grange. She was constantly doing needlepoint and donating her time and beautiful work to the Guilford Community Church. She enjoyed homemaking, gardening, crafts, sewing, music, outdoor activities, and time shared with her family, especially her grandchildren. Memorial information: A private funeral service was held April 1 at the Guilford Community Church, with burial in the Ogden family lot in Christ Church Cemetery. Donations to the Guilford Community Church, 38 Church Drive, Guilford, VT 05301, Attn: Rev. Lise Sparrow. Messages of condolence may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Clara M. (Lawrence) Perry, 93, of Vernon. Died March 29 at Vernon Green Nursing Home. Wife of the late Arthur Perry. Mother of George Perry and his wife, Carol, of West Brattleboro. Predeceased by a daughter, Alice, and siblings Delia, Winifred, and Oliver. Born in Townshend, the daughter of Pauline (Perkins) and Fred Lawrence, she lived there most of her life. Dhe was was a homemaker, an avid walker, doughnut maker for her friends on Deervalley Road, and enjoyed reading and writing poetry. She was also a member of the Independent Baptist Church in Chesterfield, N.H. Memorial information: A graveside funeral service will be held at the convenience of the family.
• Olive R. Smith, 79, of Vernon. Died March 28 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Wife of George E. Smith for 46 years. Mother of Stanley Sage and wife, Laura, of Vernon; Stewart Sage of Malone, N.Y.; David Sage and his companion, Laura Gibson, Gregory Smith and wife, Jane, and Andre Smith and his fiancee, Melissa Edson, all of Vernon; Ruth Parker and husband, Homer, of Northampton, Mass., and Bonnie Richotte and husband, Robert, of Vernon. Stepmother of Barry Smith and wife, Mary, of Bernardston, Mass.; Randy Smith and companion, Sue Rooney, of Turners Falls, Mass.; and Cyndie Rowell and husband, Donald, of Conway, Mass. Sister of Lillian Lennon, Shirley Lestor, Edna Scherlin, James Lestor, and Elmer Carey. Predeceased by her daughter, Alice, and her brother, Alfred. Born in Williamsville, the daughter of Zina and Eva (Fales) Carey, she was raised and educated in Marlboro where she attended public school. She was a dedicated homemaker, and for several years, she had been employed in the kitchen at Vernon Elementary School. She had also worked for Harris Basket Co. in Vernon and at the Colonial Motel in Brattleboro. She loved to bake and cook and was known for her delicious pies. She enjoyed snowmobiling, dancing, going on day trips, and collecting snow globes. She was a faithful and devoted wife and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother whose life centered around her family. Memorial information: A memorial service was held April 1 at the Atamaniuk Funeral Home in Brattleboro. Donations to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Messages of condolence may be sent to www.atamaniuk.com.
• Eric L. Swanson, 69, of Wilmington. Died March 27 at home. Husband of Caterina Swanson for 42 years. Father of Carl Swanson and his wife, Amy, of Wilmington; and Stacy Graves of Trinidad, Calif. Brother of Joan Vazakas and her husband, George, of Bonita Springs, Fla., and Dalton, Mass. Born in Hartford, Conn., the son of Dorothy and Carl Swanson, attended the University of Hartford where he earned a degree in political science. An experienced world traveler and entrepreneur, he enjoyed skiing and traveling Europe and had his hands in businesses ranging from the restaurant business in Jackson Hole, Wyo., to dune buggy production in New Haven, Conn. He had been a soccer player, real estate agent, ultralight pilot, woodworker, gardener, and accomplished entertainer among other things. His greatest joys, however, were his roles as friend, husband, father and grandfather. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held later in the spring. Donations to Brattleboro Area Hospice, 191 Canal St., Brattleboro, VT 05301; or Compassionate Care ALS, P.O. Box1052, West Falmouth, MA 02574.