Obituaries
• Edward Kenneth Ball, 61, formerly of Hinsdale N.H. Died Oct. 11, 2018 at his home in Waterloo, S.C. He was born October 8, 1957 in Berkeley, Calif., to the late Kenneth Thomas Ball and his wife Edith Katheleen George. Ed had three children: Thomas Allen Ball (deceased), Jennifer Starr Toomey of Keene N.H., and Jessica Naomi Mount of Clarkdale, Ariz., plus several grandchildren. Ed's passion was the outdoors. He was happiest hunting, fishing, or training his Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Oct. 28 at the Mountain View Seventh-day Adventist Church in Vernon, with Pastor Art Miller officiating.
• Henry Rosario De Luca, 74, of Wilmington. Died unexpectedly at his home on Nov. 6, 2018. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Nov. 21, 1943 to Louis De Luca and Rose (Maniscalco) De Luca, he grew up in Brooklyn and was a 1961 graduate of Bushwick High School. He attended the Food and Maritime Trades Vocational School and, after graduating, spent two years in Chicago studying the Culinary Arts before joining the Navy. During his Naval career as a skilled baker, he created culinary masterpieces for many high-ranking admirals at esteemed events. After serving four years in the Navy, earning the rank of petty officer, second class, he was honorably discharged in 1970, and moved to Keene, N.H., after he started his family. In Keene, Henry worked as a security officer at Keene State College and then as a long-time baker for Dunkin' Donuts. In 2007, he moved to Wilmington to be closer to his family. He enjoyed working as a security guard at Mount Snow Resort until his recent retirement. Henry lived for his grandchildren and was lovingly known as “Bumpa” to all. He was Twin Valley High School's biggest fan and never missed a Wildcat sporting event. Henry was a member of many families, including his horse racing family, his poker family, and his Dot's Restaurant family. He met friends all over the world as part of his ham radio hobby. He loved fishing and spent every spare moment on the ocean reeling in stripers and bass and entertaining those around him. He shared his fish as well as his fish stories with all who would listen. Despite his love of the Yankees and his contempt for the Patriots, he was loved by all. He is survived by his two daughters, Kori DeLuca and husband, Travis Wendel, of Wilmington, and Kerri Boyd and her husband, Seth, of Whitingham; his four grandchildren: Skyler and Sadie Boyd and Liam and Simon Wendel; his sister Margaret Zontini of Massapequa, N.Y.; and many nephews, and great nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents as well as his sister, Rosanna Palmeri. Memorial information: A celebration of Henry's life took place on Nov. 18 at Twin Valley Middle High School in Whitingham, Donations to the Twin Valley Wildcat Booster Club, 4229 VT Route 100, Whitingham, VT 05361, or the Jacksonville Community Church, VT Route 112, Jacksonville, VT 05342.
• Jason W.A. Haskell, 39, of Brattleboro. Died unexpectedly on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. He was born in Brattleboro on Feb. 28, 1979, the son of Dennis Haskell and Cynthia “Cindi” Cobb. He was a graduate of Bellows Falls Union High School and worked in construction, farming, and also worked for Thomas Drilling in Spofford, N.H. Jason loved hunting, Chevy trucks, and John Deere tractors. He is survived by his father, Dennis Haskell, and stepmother, Delilah, of Brattleboro; his mother, Cynthia Haskell of Bellows Falls; his son Taylor Haskell of Grafton; his daughter, Samantha Haskell of Illinois; his brothers Nicholas and Henry, both of Brattleboro; and his sister Mikayla Sue Haskell of Claremont, N.H. He was predeceased by his daughter, Michelle Katelyn Haskell. Memorial information: A graveside service will be held on Sunday, Nov. 25, at 2 p.m., in Oak Hill Cemetery in Bellows Falls. There will be no calling hours. Arrangements are being handled by Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls.
• Marjorie Constance Lesure, 93, of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 11, 2018 at Vernon Green Nursing Home, where she had been a resident since 2015. Born in Adams, Mass., on May 3, 1925, the daughter of James and Ethel (Heap) Louison, she was raised in Adams attending public schools and was a graduate of Adams High School, Class of 1943. She had been employed by the town of Adams working in the town clerk's office under her sister, who at the time served as town clerk. In 1947, she married Richard L. Lesure. A resident of Brattleboro since 1951, she later worked as a clerk at Holstein-Friesian Association, from which she retired. Marjorie was also a devoted homemaker and stay-at-home Mom when her daughter was growing up. For many years, she was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Bingham Chapter #30 in Brattleboro. She was a volunteer for the Windham County chapter of the American Red Cross, working at the blood drawings for 45 years. She also knitted children's sweaters for the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Gift Shop. To her credit, she knitted well over 100 sweaters many of which were donated to children in need. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and visited every state in the Continental U.S., and many provinces in Canada. Additionally, she loved sailing on Lake Winnipesaukee with her family. She was also an excellent cook. Besides her husband of 71 years, she leaves one daughter, Sydney Kingsbury of Essex, Conn.; a sister, Sydney Deldebbio of North Adams, Mass; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great nephews. She was predeceased by a sister, Audrey Scully, and three brothers, James, Donald and Ralph Louison. Memorial information: A celebration of life service will be conducted Sunday, Dec. 2, from noon until 2 p.m., at American Legion Post 5 on Linden Street. Donations to the Vernon Green Nursing Home Activities Fund, 61 Greenway Drive, Vernon, VT 05354. To sign an online register book or send messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• George Edward Ruhe, 67, of Brattleboro and Wethersfield, Conn. Died October 21, 2018 in a boating mishap on Lake Champlain. He was born in Jersey City, N.J. on June 29, 1951, the oldest son of George A. and Helga M. Ruhe. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his sister, Barbara J. Ruhe; his brother, Jonathan W.A. Ruhe; his nephew Christopher and his wife Jacksany; his niece, Andrea; his two great nephews, Bear and David; his uncle, Siegfried Dahms; cousins of many degrees both here and in Germany, and a vast community of friends. He lived in Metuchen, N.J. until 1962, when his family moved to Wethersfield. He graduated from Wethersfield High School, Class of 1969. He earned his B.A. in English and theology in 1974 from Valparaiso (Ind.) University. His life was tied to Wethersfield, but in recent years he spent significant time in Brattleboro. He followed his older sister to Valparaiso University, a decision he sometimes questioned, but it was at Valpo he took up photography with a serious intent. It was also a community where he made many dear friends. He was an extraordinarily gifted photographer and freelanced for many years, primarily for The New York Times and The Hartford Courant. He had a wide variety corporate/industrial and editorial clients and worked with a number of well known nonprofit organizations, filling their photographic needs. He started his nonprofit involvements shortly after finishing college, at the Compass Center (a shelter for homeless men) in Seattle, Wash.; Kurn Hattin in Westminster; and, most recently, at InSight Photography Project in Brattleboro. George was, in many ways, a free spirit. He traveled worldwide, spending a summer in Hong Kong teaching English at an American school. He visited England, Germany, Poland, Greece, and Switzerland. In Switzerland, he photographically documented the Swiss approach to their then-severe heroin problem. His jobs and photography skills took him all over the United States. He also read and owned many books. He was a long time member of The American Society of Media Photographers. In Brattleboro, he was an active member of the Elks, serving on their Board of Directors for some time. He had a dry wit, was a dyed in the wool New York Yankees fan, and was known to engage in intense political discussions, particularly addressing the current political climate. He had a commitment as a photojournalist to documenting injustices. Memorial information: Burial will be private at the convenience of his family. A Memorial Service will be held on December 1, 2018 at 10 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church; 1655 Boulevard. West Hartford CT 06107. Donations to Corpus Christi School, 581 Silas Deane Hwy., Wethersfield, CT 06109, or to the InSight Photography Project, 45 Flat St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Margaret Anne (Lively) “Peg” Schultz, 90, of Bellows Falls. Died Oct. 15, 2018 at Langdon Place in Keene, N.H., where she had lived for the past six years. Born in Shelburne Falls, Mass., on June 24, 1928 to Arthur J. and Isabelle Mary (McFarlane) Lively, she graduated in 1946 from Arms Academy in Shelburne Falls and from The College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee, Mass., in 1950. She married John H. Schultz Jr. in September 1950, and Jack and Peg lived in Shelburne Falls where their six children were born. Jack died in 2007. In 1969, the Schultzes moved to Bellows Falls. Peg did her graduate work at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, at the Dartmouth Medical School Biology Institute under a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, at Suffolk University under a NSF grant for marine biology, and she received her M.Ed. from Keene State College in 1977. She taught science for 25 years. After initial assignments at Colrain (Mass.) Central School and Mohawk Regional High School in Shelburne Falls, she taught in Bellows Falls for 21 years. She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma, the Windham Retired Teachers Association, a Lifetime Member of the National Education Association, and a member of the Bellows Falls Woman's Club and the American Legion Auxiliary. Peg attended St. Charles Church and the Greater BF Adoration Chapel. In her retirement, she was a volunteer reader at Central Elementary School and was a co-chair of the American Red Cross blood drives for many years. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, and baking her famous molasses cookies, among other treats. She and Jack enjoyed traveling, especially excursions to the island of Vinalhaven, Maine. She is survived by John H. Schultz III, Retired US Army (wife Katherine Lariviere) of Peachtree City, Ga.; Paula S. Schultz of Halifax; Kathleen S. Nichols (husband Mark) of Dublin, N.H.; Mary S. Black (husband John) of Stowe; Joseph A. Schultz (wife Sue Ellen Gilman) of Springdale, Ark.; and James C. Schultz (partner Michael Lucia) of Burlington. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and a great-grandson. Memorial information: A graveside service took place Nov. 18 at Arms Cemetery in Shelburne Falls.
• Irene M Smith, 91, of Jamaica. Died Nov. 8, 2018, at Valley Cares in Townshend. Born Oct. 16, 1927 in Jamaica, she was the daughter of Irene (Wright) and Frank Knight. She attended school in Jamaica and graduated from Leland and Gray Seminary in 1945. She was married to Raymond Smith for 53 years, until his death in 2001. She was a school bus driver and tax collector for many years. She is survived by her loving daughter, Rhonda Brown of Jamaica, and her sons Milton “Pete” and Patricia Smith of Londonderry, Raymond(Bozo) and Debra Smith of Londonderry, Russell and Linda Smith of Jamaica, and Romaine and Donna Smith of Jamaica. Survivors also include Virginia Varnam of North Carolina, 9 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her daughter Ramona (Smith) Coleman; sisters Lucille Knight, Catherine Dauchy, Georgia Robinson, and Barbara Doyle; and brothers Frank Knight, William Knight, Normand Knight, and Harry Knight. Memorial information: There will be no services. Donations to Valley Cares, P.O. Box 341, Townshend, VT 05353.
• Robert Walter Styles, 75, of Windham. Died Oct. 29, 2018. He was born Jan. 1, 1943 in Brattleboro to Arthur George Styles and his wife, Irene Anne Hescock. Robert grew up in South Newfane and attended Brattleboro Union High school. He went on to serve for seven years in the Navy, based in Galveston, Texas. Once done with the Navy, he worked at Mount Snow for more than 30 years where he was known as “Beagle Bob.” Additionally he worked for Larry Brown Excavating and Coleman Excavating following his retirement. He loved spending time up north at the camp that he and Raymond Grout built, hunting and fishing with his friends and family. He also loved all sports, especially the Red Sox. Robert leaves behind three children, Jebediah, Orren, and Lydia Styles; along with four grandchildren, his two sisters, Diane and Judy, and his younger brother, Jimmy. He was predeceased by his parents and a brother, Art Jr. Memorial information: A celebration of his life for family and friends was held Nov. 18 at Townshend Town Hall.
•Bernice T. Trombley, 89, of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 9, 2018 at her home following a period of declining health. She was born in Brattleboro on July 30, 1929, the daughter of Emile and Cora (Barcomb) LaValley. She was raised and educated in Brattleboro, attending St. Michael's Parochial School and St. Michael's High School. She had been employed for many years at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, retiring as dietary coordinator in November 2004. Previously she worked at the former Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates on Cotton Mill Hill. A devout Catholic, she was a lifelong communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. Bernice enjoyed playing Bingo, going shopping, and time shared with her family. In 1948, she was married to Howard J. Trombley. Her devoted husband of 69 years predeceased her in 2017. Survivors include a son, Ronald Trombley of San Antonio, Texas, and a daughter, Lynn Merling and her husband David of Brattleboro. Additionally, she leaves five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. She was predeceased by one sister, Myrtle Sprague. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Nov. 16 at St. Michael's Catholic Church, with committal rites and burial in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery. Donations to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302.To sign an online register book or send messages of condolence to her family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.