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James Arbuckle Jr.
Royalton — James W. Arbuckle Jr., 56, died Thursday, April 14, 2011 at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H.
He was born June 8, 1954 in Marietta, Ohio, the son of James and Violet (Smith) Arbuckle.
He attended schools in Virginia and North Carolina. Following his education, he served in the U.S. Army as a medic. After his discharge, he moved to Vermont. He had been married
to Andrea Dubray, Roberta Hilliker, Julia Tomb and Edith Henry.
He had worked at Gifford Memorial Hospital and Branchwood, both in Randolph. He later worked as the maintenance supervisor for the Westgate Condominiums in West Warwick, R.I., until retiring in 1986.
He lived in Nevada for several years before returning to Vermont. He loved music. His longtime hobby was electronics, with a special interest in computer technology.
Survivors include a son, James “JR” Arbuckle of Bethel; three daughters, Heidi Arbuckle of Kentucky, Shannon Ruel of Northfield, and Linda Brown of Rutland; a brother, Roy Arbuckle of Keene, N.H.; five sisters, Chrysandra Nelson of Warwick, R.I., Ann Adams of South Royalton, Debra Russ of White River Junction, Paulie Hastings of South Royalton, and Margie Arbuckle-Morrill of Sharon; and seven grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his parents.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 19 at Day Funeral Home in Randolph. There were no calling hours. Burial, with military honors, will be at Pleasant View cemetery in Randolph, at a later date.
Joseph Tousignant
Barre — Joseph Tousignant, 86, died Saturday, April 16, 2011, surrounded by his family.
He was born in Graniteville on August 24, 1924.
Survivors include his wife, Denise (Mercier) Tousignant; a son, Bob, and his wife, Jane, of Randolph; two daughters, Diane (Tousignant) Hanna of Barre, and Marlene Tousignant of Villa Rica, Ga.; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by a grandson, Corey Pecor of Barre.
Calling hours will take place Monday, April 25 at 9:30 a.m. at the Pruneau-Polli Funeral Home in Barre.
Funeral services will take place Monday, April 25 at 11 a.m. at St. Monica’s Church in Barre.
William Senecal
Braintree — William J. Senecal Jr., 64, of Braintree, died Saturday, April 16, 2011 at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H.
Arrangements are pending at the Day Funeral Home in Randolph.
Wallace A. Martin
Rochester — Wallace Albert Martin, 92, of Rochester, died Saturday, April 2, 2011 at Gifford Medical Center in Randolph.
He was born December 3, 1918 in Montpelier, the son of George N. and Merle (Plastridge) Martin.
He attended Montpelier schools and graduated from Montpelier High School. Wally entered Norwich University, and graduated cum laude in 1940. While at Norwich, he played clarinet in the band, mounted on horseback, as Norwich was home to the last horse cavalry unit in the Army. Wally and a friend once “borrowed” a pair of horses, and rode hell-bent through a neighboring town yelling, “the British are coming!” at the top of their lungs.
After graduation, Wally began a teaching career at Waitsfield High School. World War II loomed on the horizon, however, and he was called to active duty in the Army in September of 1941. Shortly before, he married
the love of his life, Eleanor DeFreest of Warren.
Wally served in Africa with the Eighth Army, under General Montgomery, as an air operations officer. Through battles in Africa, Sardinia, Sicily and Italy, he acquired a case of malaria and a profound dislike for flying. He came home shortly after VE Day and began work on a Masters in Education at UVM. Teaching principal posts followed in Newport Center and North Troy, Vt., where he and Eleanor made many life-long friends.
After earning his Masters, Wally accepted the position of Superintendent of Schools for the Windsor Northwest Supervisory Union, which at that time included about 26 schools in Rochester, Bethel, Granville, Warren, Hancock, Stockbridge, Pittsfield and Sherburne. Many schools had but one or two rooms and one in Lympus could only be reached on foot in mud season.
In the 25 years he held the position, there were many changes; new schools were built, the old one or two room building were closed as districts consolidated. The things which never changed were Wally’s love for the students, his ability to listen to multiple viewpoints and his negotiating skills. In those 25 years, Wally only had a written contract for the last three, as a handshake and a smile were sufficient.
After retirement, Wally worked as a janitor at Whitcomb High School. A school board member teased him about it on leaving a board meeting, until Wally pointed out that when he went home at night, he fell asleep with no worries.
Retirement also included a term as state representative, during which he had significant input on education funding. A request to run for state senate was turned down because it would have meant too much time away from Eleanor. After all, as superintendent he’d spent eight full years worth of nights at meetings, including one the night his younger daughter was born.
For the rest of their lives, Wally and Eleanor lived the outdoor life they loved. Spring found them trout fishing, or beginning their summer garden. Summer was hiking the Green Mountains, most of the 4, 000-footers in the Whites, or biking various 50-mile loops all over Vermont, or down to Brattleboro and Hinsdale, N.H. to see their daughter and grandchildren. They even climbed Mt. Washington on their 50th anniversary. To keep an eye on grandkids, they made car trips to Texas and California.
They also played golf. Wally was for years a “scratch” or no handicap golfer, and shot a hole-in-one on the Middlebury course at the age of 78. They also played courses on Prince Edward Island, Myrtle Beach, Randolph, Northfield, Brandon and Sugarbush.
Wally loved to cross country ski. He and Eleanor skied an average of 450 miles a year, primarily in the National Forest and the Rikert Ski Touring Center, but also at Breton Woods in New Hampshire. Their daughter Jackie, following them there by a day on one occasion, idly wondered what idiots had skied across a nearly thawed beaver pond. This remark was met with a gale of laughter.
As Wally learned, and the rest of us will, “old age ain’t for sissies”. The past three years, Eleanor’s health began to fail, arthritis slowed and finally stopped her outdoor pursuits. She died January 9 of this year.
Without the love of his life, Wally found it hard to soldier on alone. He gave it a try, learning to use such infernal machines as microwaves and washing machines, paying bills in his illegible script, and waiting for baseball to start. He watched several innings of the Yankees Detroit opener with his daughter, but it was not enough. He went to the hospital that evening, and died peacefully Saturday, with his daughter Jackie and granddaughters Ellen Reeves and Judy Kucera by his side.
Besides his daughter Jackie Williams of Dover, N.H. and granddaughters Ellen of Rochester, N.H. and Judy of Durham, N.H., he is survived his granddaughter Emily Williams of Sebastapol, Calif., grandson Benjamin Williams, a veteran of two tours in Iraq, now a student at UNH; one sister-in-law, Marlene DeFreest of Warren; and 26 nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his daughter Joan and his sister Elizabeth.
In keeping with Wally and Eleanor’s wishes, no formal services are planned. Those who wish may make contributions to the Green Mountain Club, Rochester Public Library, or to a charity of your choice.
Nancy J. Amell
Bethel — Nancy J. Amell, 71, died early Tuesday morning, April 5, 2011 at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H.
She was born May 7, 1939 in Randolph, Vt.; the daughter of Cecil and Ila H. (Drew) Canning. She was raised in Rochester and moved to Bethel in 1973. Nancy was married
to Paul V. Amell, Jr. in Bethel on April 11, 1981.
She had worked for many years at Waterbury Plastics and most recently at G.W. Plastics. She was a fun-loving person who enjoyed camping, crafts, and line dancing.
Survivors include her husband, Paul V. Amell, Jr. of Bethel; brother, Larry Smith and his wife, Diana of Grand Isle, Vt.; sister, Lorraine Sulham and her husband, Art of Stockbridge; father-in-law, Paul Amell Sr., and his wife, Jeanette of South Royalton; brothers-in-law, Len Amell and wife, Marie, and Sheldon Amell and wife Nancy, all of South Royalton, and Micky Therrien of Bethel; sisters-in-law, Linda Blaisdell and husband, Tom of Bethel, Elizabeth Britch of South Royalton, and Sylvia Bradley and husband, Randy of Braintree; many nieces and nephews, and special friends, Roland and Nancy Boucher.
She was predeceased by her sister, Noreen Warner.
Calling hours are Friday, April 8 from 6-8 p.m. at the Day Funeral Home in Randolph. Graveside services will be held Friday, May 20 at 10 a.m. at Fairview cemetery in Bethel.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the White River Valley Ambulance, 3190 Pleasant Street, Bethel, Vt. 05032.
Donald C. Dustin
BRAINTREE — Donald C. Dustin, 79, died Saturday, May 29, 2004 at his home.
He was born in Putnam, Conn., Feb. 7, 1925, the son of Clifford and Maude (Carpenter) Dustin.
He was educated in Randolph Schools and graduated from Randolph High School. He attended the University of Vermont and Tufts Nursing School and graduated from the University of Maryland.
He served in the Army Air Corps. during WW II, the Korean Conflict and Vietnam. He had joined the Army National Guard, O.C.S. school and retired as a Lt. Colonel, after 24 years in the military, many in Europe. While in Europe, he played on the military basketball team and the ski patrol, in the Austrian Alps.
After returning to Randolph, he was a farmer, raising heifers and Black Angus, an electrician, Randolph Town Manager, and a building trades teacher at the Randolph Area Vocational center.
He served the town of Braintree as a moderator, zoning board member, school board member, and as a trustee of the Braintree Historical Society, for many years. He was a member and past commander of the American Legion Post #9 of Randolph, the Phoenix Masonic Lodge of Randolph, the Mt. Sinai Shrine, and the Randolph Rotary Club where he was a Paul Harris Fellow.
He also taught swimming and was a 4H leader. He enjoyed gardening, and furniture making. He donated some of his furniture to area churches, the library and charitable auctions.
He will be remembered for his support of many Randolph organizations as well as community members in need.
He married
Roxie Snyder in Sept. 1946. She died in 1994. He married
Anna Chomentowski, Jan. 6, 1998.
Survivors include his wife, of Braintree; a daughter, Robin Rumazza of Fayetville, N.Y.; two grandchildren: Carla Rumazza of East Syracuse, N.Y. and Heidi Baxter of Seattle, Wash.; Anna’s children: Walter Chomentowski in E. Lansing, Mich., John Chomen- towski of Cambridge, Mass.; Robert Chomentowski of San Francisco, Calif.; Maria Chomentowski of Burlington; and Laura Chomen towski of West Hartford, Conn.; a brother, Dr. Robert Dustin, of Randolph; two sisters: Marcia Dewey, of Randolph; and Carol Dupras of Randolph Center; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Memorial services were held at the Braintree Hill Church, Wednesday, June 2, with Rev. Kathy Eddy officiating. There were no calling hours. A reception with a chance for reflections followed at the Three Stallion Inn in Randolph.
Donations in his memory may be given to the Randolph American Legion Post, P.O. Box 75, Randolph, Vt. 05060, or the Randolph Area Vocational Center, 17 Forest St., Randolph Vt. 05060.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Day Funeral Home of Randolph.
