College news
• The following local students were among the 1,091 students who are candidates for graduation this month from Keene State College with associate's, bachelor's, or master's degrees: MacKenzie Prasch of South Londonderry (B.A., B.S., Cum Laude); Melanie Murphy of Dummerston (B.A.), Brandon Chabot of West Dover (B.A.); Aaron Providence of Guilford (B.S.); Heidi Henkel of Putney (B.S.); and Jaclyn Toney of Brattleboro (B.S.).
Obituaries
• Alice Elizabeth Mitchell Chapman, 85, of Brattleboro. Died May 3. Former wife of Philip B. Chapman. Mother of John M. Chapman and his wife, Debra, of Brattleboro; and Nancy A. Sprague of Brattleboro. Sister of the late Harold N. and Lester E. Mitchell, Ruth Loring, Mildred Shepard, Lilla Sjostrand, and Arlene Horton. Born in Plymouth, N.H., the daughter of the late Lester and Ethel Newton Mitchell, she was a graduate of Keene State College with a B.Ed and MAT from Antioch Graduate School. Her teaching career began in Chesterfield, N.H., and continued in the Brattleboro area for 23 years in fourth and sixth grades. During her teaching career, she enjoyed creating curriculum and integrating learning and hands-on experiences for her students. She retired in 1990 and continued in the field of education as a supervisor of student teachers for Norwich University and Vermont College from 1991 to 2001. She was a member of All Souls Unitarian-Universalist Church in Brattleboro since 1950. Later, she joined the Floral Arts and Garden Club, Vermont Retired Teachers, and AARP. She enjoyed life, in particular her elementary school teaching, and supervising her graduate school students. She traveled to all 50 states as well as abroad, finding all rewarding experiences. She shared the bounty of her gardens with many. She enjoyed reading, researching her genealogy, quilting, knitting and other crafts, sharing the results willingly. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on May 24 at the West Village Meeting House in West Brattleboro. Donations to Rescue, Inc., 541 Canal St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, Brattleboro Area Hospice, 191 Canal St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, or Pulmonary Rehab, 17 Belmont Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Roy Howard Farrar Sr., 57, of Londonderry. Died May 1 at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. Father of Roy and his wife, Lyndsey Farrar Jr., Kenneth Farrar, Tuesday Douglass, and Amanda Sue Farrar. Brother of Russell Moulton, Doug Moulton, James Farrar, Keith Farrar, David Farrar, Carolyn Moulton, and Sandra McCarthy. Born in Springfield, Vt., the son of Gail J. and the late Virginia (Cole) Farrar, he attended schools in Cavendish and Chester, graduating from Chester High School in 1974. He spent his childhood growing up in Cavendish and later moved to Londonderry where he lived for nearly 40 years. He enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, hunting and camping. He also loved NASCAR racing and attending the races whenever possible. He had a great love for his five grandchildren who always put a twinkle in his eye. He had an infectious laugh and smile that would light up any given moment. Memorial information: Funeral services were held May 9 at Second Congregational Church of Londonderry, with a graveside committal service and interment in Cavendish Village Cemetery. Donations to the Roy Farrar Sr. Benefit Fund, in care of One Credit Union, 380 River St., Springfield, VT 05156. Arrangements were handled by Adams Funeral Home in Chester.
• Bernard Powers Fitzgerald, 84, of Tempe, Ariz. Died May 1. Husband of the late Gladys (Reed) Fitzgerald. Father of Thomas Fitzgerald and his wife, Barbara, of Williamsburg, Va.; Bernadette Jewett and her husband, Joe, of Brattleboro; Patricia Speno and her husband, Luke, of Newport News, Va.; Michael Fitzgerald and his wife, Lisa, of West Chesterfield, N.H.; Brian Fitzgerald and his wife, Kathi, of Chesapeake, Va.; Kevin Fitzgerald of Tempe; Jane Johnson and her husband, Tim, of Chandler, Ariz.; and David Fitzgerald and his wife, Wanda, of Newport News, Va. Born in Cohoes, N.Y., he was the patriarch of a loving family, an educator, and a faithful servant of his country and his Catholic faith. Educated early at the Christian Brother Military Academy in Cohoes, he went on to distinguish himself at Siena College, and at the University of Georgia, where he graduated magna cum laude and was privileged to receive that diploma from then-Sen. John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Between 1950 and 1954, he served in the Navy in the Supply Corps. He was stationed in Athens, Ga., where he met and married the love of his life. The Fitzgeralds moved to Brattleboro in 1958. He taught at Brattleboro Union High School and later served as principal of Green Street School. He was also co-owner of Central Answering Service in Brattleboro. In 1978, the family relocated to Tempe. An exuberant and master story-teller, he loved to share his passion for history, music, movies, politics, his Irish heritage, and Notre Dame football. The Fitzgeralds were charter members of the New England Patriots Fan Club of Arizona. A devoted parishioner and lector at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Tempe, he authored a prayer book to assist the Friends of St. Peregrine. The booklet is distributed for the benefit of the sick for their comfort and spiritual healing. Memorial information: In commemoration of their 60th wedding anniversary, interment for Bernard and Gladys will take place in August 2014 at St. Michael's Cemetery in Brattleboro. Donations to the Friends of St. Peregrine, 4760 E. Pearce Road, Phoenix, AZ 85044-1155.
• Leona Elnora Bills Fuller, 95, of Stowe. Died May 4 in Barre. Former wife of the late John W. Fuller. Mother of Barbara Pike and her husband, John, of Bullhead City, Ariz.; Natalie Sparks and her husband, Harlon, of New Hartford, N.Y.; and the late John B. Fuller. Sister of Doris Clark of Springfield, Vt. Born in Jamaica, she later moved to Wilmington when her children were young and worked for Dr. Milton Wolf for many years. She also was the head chambermaid at The Andirons Motel for several years. Upon her retirement, she moved to West Branch Apartments in Stowe, where she resided for 30 years. She had many friends and they enjoyed wonderful times together. For the past four years, she lived at the Berlin Health and Rehab facility in Barre. Memorial information: A private graveside service will be held at a later date in Riverview Cemetery at Wilmington. Donations to the Vermont Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired, 10 Main St., Montpelier, VT 05602.
• Elizabeth A. Stark, 79, of West Brattleboro. Died May 4 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Wife of the late Donald A. Stark. Mother of Randall L. Stark of North Carolina, James E. Stark and his wife, Ann, of West Brattleboro, and Dawnette E. Rogers and Christina M. Houle, both of North Carolina. Born in Brattleboro, the daughter of the late Everett M. and Marrian (Davidson) Akley, she was a lifelong Brattleboro resident. She enjoyed flowers, crocheting, watching TV, spending time with her cat, Cali, and gardening. She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Memorial information: Services will be held at a later date. Donations to Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice of Vermont and New Hampshire, 66 Benning St., Suite 6, West Lebanon, NH 03784. Ker-Westerlund Funeral Home of Brattleboro is assisting the family with arrangements.
• Henry H. “Hank” Sumner, 74, of Brattleboro. Died April 27 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Son of the late Harry and Anna Sumner. Brother of Kathryn Lucier of Brattleboro and the late James H. and Albert A. Sumner. Memorial information: A private graveside service was held at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Putney. Donations to The Gathering Place, 30 Terrace St, Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Jean A. Ward, 89, of Bellows Falls. Died May 1 at Springfield Health & Rehab Center. Wife of the late Kenneth Ward. Mother of Richard Ward of Rockville, Conn., Sharon Cote of Bellows Falls, and the late Gary Ward. Sister of the late Dana Spicer. The daughter of the late William and Florence (Bresland) Spicer, she attended schools in Bellows Falls and was a graduate of Bellows Falls High School. She worked at Manchester (Conn.) Memorial Hospital as a nurse's aide. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Bellows Falls Senior Center and Greater Falls Exercise Class. She enjoyed traveling, doing crossword puzzles, gardening, and reading. Memorial information: A funeral service was held May 6 at Immanuel Episcopal Church in Bellows Falls, with burial in Oak Hill Cemetery. Donations to the Vermont Chapter of the American Cancer Society, 55 Day Lane, Williston, VT 05495. Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls was in charge of arrangements.