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” G. Barnes, 68, of Northfield, Mass. Died Nov. 20 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, N.H. Brother of Richard and his wife, Judy, of Hinsdale, N.H.; and Raymond and his wife, Patti, of Northfield. Born in Greenfield, Mass, the son of the late Gerald and Erna (Bruhm) Barnes. His early years were spent in Gill, Mass., and his family moved to Northfield in 1952. He graduated from Pioneer Valley Regional School in Northfield in 1961 and East Coast Aero Tech School in 1963. He owned and operated Barnes Automotive, which specializes in Toyota repairs, on Route 142 in Northfield. He was an avid auto racing participant and fan. He served for many years on the Northfield Zoning Board of Appeals. Memorial information: A private funeral service will be held at the convenience of the family. Donations to the Vernon Advent Christian Church, 4554 Ft. Bridgman Rd. Vernon, Vt. 05354.
• Rita Maria Linley Ham Corbin, 81, of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 17 at UMass Memorial Hospital, Worcester, Mass., after sustaining injuries in a car accident. Wife of the late Martin Joseph Corbin. Mother of Dorothy McGuire, Maggie Corbin, Sara Corbin, Coretta Bliss, Martin Corbin, and the late Christopher Corbin. Born in Indianapolis, she and her family moved often before settling in New York City, where she attended Cathedral Girls' High School. She rebelled against secretarial training and obtained a scholarship to the Franklin School of Professional Art. She also studied at the Art Students' League under printmaker Harold Sternberg and abstract expressionist painter Hans Hoffman, but she said her best education came from visiting art museums and galleries, exploring the city and drawing the ordinary people she saw. In 1950, she became involved in the Catholic Worker movement. The founder, Dorothy Day, with whom she became close friends, immediately set her to work illustrating the paper, The Catholic Worker. She became a lifelong contributor as one of the three primary Catholic Worker artists. The Corbins worked on Liberation magazine with activist Dave Dellinger, and then joined the Catholic Worker farm in Tivoli, N.Y. She and her children eventually settled in Brattleboro in the early 1980s, and she has lived in the Brattleboro area off and on ever since. She spent a few years in Worcester, Mass., in the early 1990's and had close ties to Catholic Worker communities in that area as well. She loved to travel and felt no need to remain in one place for long. She lived simply with few belongings but for her books, her art and her artists' materials. As an artist, she explored every medium she could and even experimented with computer drawing programs, but she considered her best work to be her drawings of the ordinary, the poor and dispossessed. Her work has appeared in many well-known religious magazines and she worked with publishers such as Paulist Press, and illustrated many books, including Thomas Merton's Ishi Means Man. She also created an annual Catholic Worker calendar, starting in the late 1960s. It continues to this day. Memorial information: A funeral Mass will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro. Donations may be made at www.RitaCorbin.com.
• Marion Agnes Critchfield, 88, of Walpole, N.H. Died Nov. 18 at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, N.H. Wife of the late Charles L. Critchfield for 39 years. Mother of Walter of Grafton, David of Drewsville, N.H., James of Saxtons River, Scott of Bellows Falls, and Linda Shepard of Alstead, N.H. Sister of Clarence of Walpole and Robert of Vernon. Predeceased by siblings John and Richard Swain and Dorothy Hicks, Hazel King, Rose Hurd, and Gladys LaRue. Born in Enfield, N.H., the daughter of Leslie J. and Rose (Marcott) Swain. She attended schools in Walpole, and later worked for Hubbard Farms and J.H. Dunning Corp. in Walpole. She enjoyed getting together with her family, and loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Memorial information: A graveside funeral service was held on Nov. 26 in the Walpole Cemetery.
• Donald Alton “Don” Cushman, 90, of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 22 at Thompson House. Former husband of Amy C. Plume. Father of Alton “Benny” Cushman of Brattleboro. Brother of the late Howard Cushman and Geneva Church. Born in Vernon, the son of Walter and Dora (Copeland) Cushman, he was raised and educated in Vernon where he attended public schools. He served in the Army during World War II, and later worked as a machinist employed at the former Robert Shaw Co. in Hinsdale and for several other area machine shops. He was also an accomplished musician who for several years had his own band in addition to playing with several other area groups. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brattleboro and was a former member of American Legion Post 5 in Brattleboro. Besides his love for music, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and tinkering on his truck. He could fix or repair just about anything and was known as a jack of all trades. Memorial information: A graveside service with full military honors was held Nov. 25 in Tyler Cemetery in Vernon. Donations to the Thompson House Activities Fund, 80 Maple St. Brattleboro, VT 05301. Condolences may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Jerrold S. Dix, 83, of Lancaster, Pa. Died Nov. 19. Husband of Marilyn Wetzell Dix. Father of Jennifer Dix. Born in Brattleboro, he was the son of the late Justin H. and Myrtle Briggs Dix. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was a man of many hobbies, some of which included gardening, water skiing, hunting, snow skiing, camping, and playing the piano, organ, and accordion. After retiring from his position as assistant controller of National Life Insurance Co., he volunteered through Helps International Ministries (HIM), creating accounting software for mission organizations. Memorial information: A memorial service was held at Grace Baptist Church in Lancaster on Nov. 26. Donations to Scripture Memory Mountain Mission (SMMM), P.O. Box 129, Emmalena, KY 41740; Lancaster Parkinson Support Group, P.O. Box 251, East Petersburg, PA 17520; Grace Baptist Church, 1899 Marietta Ave., Lancaster, PA 17604; or the Homestead Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 3227, Marietta Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17604.
• Christopher Lynn Fitch, 59, of Windham. Died at his home in Windham, where he lived for 27 years and was an active member in the community. Husband of Maureen Fitch. Father of Brittany and Abraham. Brother of Anita Coombs, Susan Delisle, Diane Lambert, Joephas Fitch, Mary Fitch, and Daniel Fitch. Son of M. Louise (Holben) Fitch and the late Arthur L. Fitch. He was a volunteer at the Windham Fire Department and an active member of the cemetery committee. He had a fond love of history, particularly colonial America, and he showed this at his woodworking demonstrations at Civil War reenactments across the state. He was an avid carpenter and craftsman, often using traditional woodworking methods to capture the old school techniques of carpentry and showcase his gift of woodworking. He always lived life to the fullest and his time with his family was the most important thing in his life. His loving, caring personality and willingness to help others touched so many and will never be forgotten by those who knew him. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held at the Windham Congregational Church on Saturday, Dec. 3, followed by a private burial at the Windham Town Cemetery.
• Raymond O. Houghton, 84, of Walpole, N.H. Died Nov. 25 at his home. Husband of Arlene C. (Gallup) Houghton for 58 years. Father of Kenneth R. and Lori Houghton, of Tavares, Fla.; Ross H. and Tommie Houghton of Charlestown, N.H.; Louise A. and Winthrop Clark of Newfane; and Raylene H. and Steve Sperling of Goldsboro, N.C. Brother of Dorothy Cook of Chester and the late Frank and Carl Houghton and Ruth Stearns. Born in Bellows Falls, the son of the late Henry E. and Gladys (Ploof) Houghton, he was a 1947 graduate of Chester High School. He served in the Army, and later worked in farming and for R.N. Johnson, Inc. until retirement. He was a member of the Walpole Fire Department, and served as assistant fire chief. He was co-founder of the Walpole Volunteer Ambulance Corp. He was an avid woodworker. Memorial information: Burial will take place at the convenience of the family in Walpole. Donations to the Walpole Fire Department, P.O. Box 162, Walpole, NH 03608.
• Ethel B. Lockerby, 76, of Athens. Died Nov. 22 on what would have been her 57th wedding anniversary. Wife of the late Richard Lockerby. Mother of Keith Lockerby of Athens, Thomas Lockerby of Saxtons River, Samuel Lockerby of Athens, Denise Lockerby of Charlestown, N.H., and Sherri Lund of Westminster. Sister of Robert Long of Rockingham, Alice Benware of Putney, Nancy Gonzels of Missouri, and the late Daniel Long and June Walitynski. Born in Bellows Falls, the daughter of CarI V. and Gladys M. (Delano) Long, she attended schools in Alstead, N.H., and worked at Tom Turner, Whitney Blake, and Peerless lnsurance. She was a former member of the Loyal Order of the Moose, the Polish American Club, and the Bellows Falls Senior Center. She was very active and devoted mother, and was always visiting with her tight-knit family. Memorial information: A graveside service was held at Nov. 25 at Cambridgeport Cemetery.
• Frances “Carolyn” Goodrich Wheeler, 82, of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 22 at Grace Cottage Hospital. Wife of Gordon E. Wheeler for 62 years. Sister of the late Dorothea Hall. Born in Waltham, Mass., the daughter of Carroll and Florence (Gillan) Goodrich. Following her parents' divorce, she lived with her father. When her father became disabled, her aunt moved in with them to help care for her, her father, and her sister. She spent the first four years of her schooling at Arlington School in St. Johnsbury, where her aunt was principal. She then attended fifth grade in Hardwick at a one-room school near the Goodrich farm. In 1940, her family, along with her aunt, moved to Newbury, where she attended and graduated from Newbury High School, class of 1948. She then moved to Brattleboro and went to work for the Holstein-Freisian Association. She retired in December 1981, following 32 years of service. She was a member of Centre Congregational Church for more than 60 years. She loved to travel, cook, and read, and enjoyed bowling and dancing in her earlier years. She had a love for all animals and, through the years, the Wheelers owned many dogs and cats. Besides her loving husband of 62 years, she is survived by several nieces and nephews. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Nov. 26 at Centre Congregational Church, with burial in Ladd Street Cemetery in Haverhill, N.H. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital, c/o Dr. Robert Backus, P.O. Box 216, Townshend, VT 05353, or to Centre Congregational Church, 193 Main St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. Condolences may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.