Author: Canaan Town Library

Carolyn Jean Downes

from the November 9, 1994 issue of The Country Chronicle

Lebanon, NH –Carolyn Jean Downes, 21, formerly of Lebanon, and most recently of Malden Mass. died Monday, October 31, 1994 at the Malden Hospital. She was born in Lebanon, NH March 21, 1973, the daughter of Daniel A. & Elizabeth (Garde) Downes.  She attended New Hampton School and was a graduate of Lebanon High School Class of 1991.  She later attended and was on the Dean’s List at New England College in Henniker.  She participated in soccer & skiing and had won awards for her skiing.  She was also a ski instructor at Whaleback and Ascutney.  She was also active in 4-H, horseback riding, and the Lebanon High School Band.  She was a member of the Community Lutheran Church of Enfield.

She had been a resident of Malden, Mass. for the last year where she was employed as a leasing agent for the Charles River Park in Boston.  Carolyn was very creative and had a wonderful sense of humor.

Friends called the Ricker Funeral Home in Lebanon on Wednesday evening.  A memorial service was held Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m. in the Community Lutheran Church in Enfield with burial following in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

The family requested that in lieu of flowers that memorial contributions be sent to:  The Carolyn Downes Memorial Charitable Trust, c/o Windsor-Orange County Credit Union, 11 Alden Ave, White River Jct., VT  05001.

She is survived by her parents, Daniel A. & Elizabeth (Garde) Downes of Lebanon; a sister Susan E. Downes-Williams of Lebanon; a companion Brian H. Jerry of Malden, Mass.; a paternal grandfather, Lloyd B. Downes of Lebanon; a maternal grandmother Ruth P. Garde of Middletown, CT plus many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Ricker Funeral Home in Lebanon was in charge of the arrangements.

 

Selma “Sally” Carpenter

from the January 25 issue of The Country Chronicle

Enfield, NH–Selma “Sally” Carpenter, 66, of George Hill Rd, Enfield Center, died Saturday, January 14, 1995 at 4:30 a.m. at the Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital in Lebanon.  The daughter of Arthur Jacobsen and Charlotte Stark, she was born May 8, 1928 in Brooklyn, NY.  She attended schools in Hempstead, NY and graduated from Hempstead High School in 1946.  In 1948 she married William E. Carpenter.  They have resided in Enfield Center since 1967.  Prior to 1967 she and her husband lived in Pomfret, VT and Long Island, NY.  She worked in this area as an administrive secretary at Dartmouth College and also Purity Supreme as a cashier for 12 years until her retirement.  She was an active supporter of the Upper Valley Humane Society and was active in the Quarter Horse Association. Last year she was awarded a trophy buckle for bringing in the most new members to the Association.  A Memorial Service was held on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Community Lutheran Church in Enfield with the Rev. John Crilley officiating.

Survivors include her husband, William E. Carpenter of Enfield Center; a daughter, Jane Carpenter of Enfield Center; a son, William P. Carpenter of Las Vegas, NV; four grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

The Ricker Funeral Home of Lebanon was in charge of arrangements.

Wilmot O. Estey

from the February 1,1995 issue of The Country Chronicle

Enfield,NH–Wilmot O. Estey, 80, died Sunday morning January 22,1995 at the Dartmouth- Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH.  He was born in Washburn, ME, February 16, 1914, the son of the late Herbert & Blanche (Hanning) Estey.

He had been employed by the Boston & Maine Railroad and later the United States Postal Service in White River Jct., VT retiring in 1976.

A longtime resident of Enfield, he had cared for the Enfield Cemeteries, and was a former town Health Officer.

He was married to Stella G. (Parker) who died in Decenber of 1966.  He was later married to Ruth (Hibbard) who died December 5, 1994.

Friends called at the Ricker Funeral Home in Enfield on Tuesdy evening from 7-9 p.m.  Funeral services were conducted in the funeral home Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. with the Rev. David Polhemus officiating.  Burial will be in the spring in the Lakeview Cemetery in Enfield.

Survivors include:  a son, Wilmot F. Estey of Enfield; a sister, Edith Debow of Lowell, MA; a sister, Fern Curran of Melrose, MA; a brother, Durwood Estey of Revere, MA; three grand-daughters and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

The Ricker Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

 

George R. Stibitz

from the February 8, 1995 issue of The Country Chronicle

Hanover, NH–George Robert Stibitz, 90, professor emeritus at Dartmouth Medical School known internationally as “father of the modern digital computer,” died January 31, 1995 at his home in Hanover Center, NH.

While a research mathematician at AT & T Bell Laboratories in the 1930’s, Stibitz designed a binary adder, then developed several increasingly powerful digital computers, several of which were used in the World War II military effort.

In 1954, as a private consultant in Burlington, VT, he developed an inexpensive electronic digital computer that was a prototype of today’s minicomputers.

After joining the Dartmouth Medical School faculty in 1964, Stibitz was a pioneer in what is now known as biomedicine, applying computer science to such projects as the motion of oxygen in the lungs, renal exchange, brain cell anatomy, a mathematical model of capillary transport, myocardial cellular cellular electrophysiology and radiation dosimetry.

Stibitz received honors from several professional associations and honorary degrees from his alma mater, Denison University and from Keene (NH) State College and Dartmouth College.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Dorothea Lamson Stibitz; daughters, Mary (Mrs. Leon) Pacifici of Waterford, CT and Martha (Mrs. Sikhar) Stibitz Banerjee of New London, NH; a granddaughter, Monica Banerjee; a brother, E, Earle Stibitz of Carbondale, IL; sisters, Mildred T, Stibitz and Eleanor (Mrs David) Billmyer of Albany, NY; and several nieces and nephews.

Stibitz recalled his career in a 1993 memoir, The Zeroth Generation, so titled because his machines preceded  the first generation of computers.  In his book, Stibitz recounts how, in 1937, he built a primitive binary adder in his kitchen from dry cell batteries, metal strips from a tobacco can and flashlight bulbs soldered to wires from two telephone relays.  A replica is in the Smithsonian Institution.

Working with a Bell engineer, Samuel Williams, Stibitz expanded the adder into the Model I Complex Calculator, which went into routine operation in January 1940.  The Model I solved problems faster than 100 human computists with desk calculators, and its connection to Teletypes in other Bell offices was an early predecessor of a timesharing system.

Later in 1940, Stubitz demonstrated his computer at a joint meeting of three mathematical societies at Dartmouth.  In what is believed to be the first remote computer operation, he sent problems through a Teletype hookup from Dartmouth to a Bell Labs computer in New York City which returned numerical answers to Hanover in seconds.

The American Federation of Information Processing Societies presented him with its Harry Goode Award for his innovative computer work in 1965.  Other awards were the Emanuel R. Piore Award (1977) and the Computer Pioneer Award of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (1982).

Stibitz was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1976 and to the Inventors Hall of Fame in 1983.  Later this year Denison University plans to announce an endowed chair, the George R. Stibitz distinguished Professor in Mathematics.

Besides patents for his inventions assigned to Bell Labs, Stibitz held 38 of his own.

Stibitz was born on April 30, 1904, in York, PA,  the son of a man in the (German) Reformed Church in the United States.  When Stibitz was a young child, the family moved to Dayton, OH, where his father taught ancient languages at Central Theological Seminary.

After graduating from Moraine Park School, an experimental progressive school, Stibitz received a full scholarship to Denison University.  He graduated from Denison in 1926, and earned a master’s degree in physics from Union College in 1927 and a doctorate from Cornell University in 1930.

A memorial service will be arranged at a later date.

Roy S. Braley

from the February 8, 1995 issue of The Country Chronicle

Canaan, NH–Roy S. Braley, 85, died Monday morning January 30, 1995, at the Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital in Lebanon, NH.  H was born in Claremont, NH November 6, 1909, the son of the late Israel S. and Mabel (Vadney) Braley.  He was a self-employed truck driver in the logging industry for many years.  He was also caretaker for an estate in Cornish, NH for several years prior to his retirement in 1974.  His great love was his children and family.  He had a great appreciation of nature and loved fishing, hunting, gardening, birds and beekeeping.

He was married to Mildred E. (Clark) Braley who died February 22, 1991.  Friends called at he Ricker Funeral Home in Enfield Tuesday evening from 7-9 p.m.  Graveside services will be held in the spring in the West Canaan Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to The American Lung Association, 456 Beech St., P.O. Box 1014, Manchester, NH 03105-1014.

Survivors include: a stepdaughter, Lily Jackson of Greensboro, NC; a daughter, Mabel Fellows of Enfield; a son, Kenneth J. Braley of Enfield; a son, Dale R. Braley of West Canaan; a son, Chester A. Braley of West Canaan; many grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.

The Ricker Funeral Home of Lebanon was in charge of arrangements.

 

William H. “Bill” Withington

from the March 1, 1995 issue of The Country Chronicle

Canaan, NH–William H. “Bill” Withington, 87, died Tuesday, Feb. 21, 1995 at the Brookside Nursing Home in White River Jct., VT.  He was born in Canaan, NH March 10, 1907, the son of the late Herbert F. & Julia (Stevens) Withington.  He was a lifelong Canaan resident and attended local schools.  He was employed by Baltic Woolen Mills in Enfield, NH for many years and later worked for Split Ballbearing in Lebanon.

He was married to Jennie “Elizabeth” (Emerson) who died June 18, 1987.

Friends called at the Ricker Funeral Home in Enfield on Friday evening from 7-9 p.m.  Services were conducted at the funeral home on Saturday morning at 10 a.m.  The Rev. Lorene Eldredge officiated.  Burial will be in the spring in the Wells Cemetery in Canaan, NH.  Memorial contributions in memory of Mr. Withington may be made to the Canaan F.A.S.T. Squad, Canaan, NH  03741.

Survivors include: a daughter, Catherine Clark of Stoughton, MA; a brother, Robert Withington of Canaan; a grandaughter, Vicki McDade of Stoughton, MA; a granddaughter, Kim Clark of Somerville, MA; a greatgrandchild, Peter McDade of Stoughton, MA; his close friend, Lena Tucker; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Arrangements were by the Ricker Funeral Home of Lebanon.

 

David Lester Downes

from the March 8, 1995 issue of The Country Chronicle

Grafton, NH–David L. Downes, 51, formerly of Grafton, NH, died Sunday afternoon, February 26, 1995 at the New London Hospital following a long illness.  He was born in Merrimack, NH November 13, 1943.  He had lived in Grafton, NH for most of his life and had most recently been a resident of Canaan, NH since November, 1994.  Mr. Downes had been employed by the Town of Grafton and was most recently working for the Kings Sawmill in Wentworth, NH.  He had also worked on local farms and enjoyed animals, haying and the Cornish Fair.

There were no calling hours.  Services will be held in the spring at the convenience of the family.

Memorial contributions may be made to: The Grafton Volunteer Ambulance Fund, Grafton, NH  03240

The Ricker Funeral Home of Lebanon, NH was in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include: his mother, Inis (Gallup) Laware of Canaan; a sister, Mavis Dodge of Grafton; a sister, Gloria Trask of Grafton; a sister, Merle Moses of Canaan; a brother, Stanley Downes of Haverill, NH; his special friends Bob & Gerry Bassett of Grafton; aunts, uncle, and several nieces and nephews.

Richard C. Pollard

from the March 22, 1995 issue of The Country Chronicle

Enfield, NH–Richard C. Pollard Sr., 64, died suddenly on March 16, 1995 at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH.  He had been a lifelong resident of this area and attended Lebanon schools.  On August 9, 1952 he was married to Yvonne Provencal.  In March of 1953 he was inducted into the U.S. Army serving during the Korean conflict.  He was discharged at the rank of Corporal in January of 1955.  He had been employed by Trumbull-Nelson Construction Company of Hanover as a finish carpenter for many years.  He was a police officer for the Town of Enfield Police Department for 20 years retiring at the rank of Sergeant.  He served as fire warden for the Town of Enfield for many years and was a member of the Enfield F.A.S.T. Squad.  He was an active member of and past President of the Enfield R.E.A.C.T. (Radio Emergency and Communications Team).  At the time of his death he was employed by the Weathervane Restaurant in West Lebanon.  He was well known for his sense of humor and the practical jokes he played on his family and friends.  He was a loving husband, father and grandfather.

Survivors include: his wife, Yvonne Pollard of enfield; a son, Richard C. Pollard Jr.  of Enfield; a daughter, Donna Beliveau of West Canaan; a daughter, Patricia Jordan of Enfield; a sister, Colleen LaCroix of Milton, NJ; a brother, William Pollard of Delbarry, FL; a sister, Phyllis Smith of FL; a brother, Charles Pollard of Windsor, VA; a brother, Arthur Pollard of Lebanon; a brother, David Pollard of Jewitt City, CT; a brother, Roger Pollard of Canaan; a brother, Donald Pollard of Lebanon; a sister, Beverly Hill of Canaan; a sister, Nancy Nadeau of Meriden, NH; a brother, Robert Pollard of Enfield; nine grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Friends called at the Ricker Funeral Home in Lebanon Saturday evening from 7-9 p.m.  Funeral services were held on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. at the Ricker Funeral Home with the Rev. John Crilley officiating.  Burial will be in the spring in the Lakeview Cemetery in Enfield.  Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Enfield F.A.S.T. Squad, PO Box, Enfield, NH  03748.

Ricker Funeral Home of Lebanon was in charge of arrangements.

Vivian A. Cummings

from the February 8, 1995 issue of The Country Chronicle

Enfield, NH–Vivian A. Cummings, 74, of Enfield died January 30, 1995 at the Hanover Terrace Healthcare in Hanover, NH.  The daughter of Fred William Potter and Hazel Mae Potter, she was born September 2, 1920 in Whitefield, ME.  She grew up in Maine and was a graduate of Lincoln Academy in Newcastle, ME.  She moved to Bradford, VT in 1939 and was married to Bernard F Cummings Sr.  They have resided in the Upper Valley most of their lives.  She loved farming and working outdoors.

She was an active member of the United Methodist Church where she served as treasurer, taught Sunday School, served as the Superintendent of Sunday Schools and was a member of the United Methodist Women.

There were no calling hours.  A graveside service will be held in the spring in the Lakeview Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Enfield United Methodist Church.

Survivors include: her husband, Bernard F. Cummings Sr. of Enfield; a son, Bernard F. Cummings Jr. of Claremont, a brother, Fred Potter Jr. of Scottsdale, AZ; a sister, Nellie LaCount of Sharon, VT; eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews.

She was preceeded in death by a son, Robert Cummings in 1975 and a brother, Morris Potter, in 1981.

The Ricker Funeral Home of Lebanon was in charge of arrangements.

E. Stuart Lang

from the April 5, 1995 issue of The Country Chronicle

Grafton, NH–Elmer Stuart Lang, 97, died Thursday, March 30, 1995 at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH.  He was born in Perham, ME, January 1, 1898, the son of George and Blanche (Gordon) Lang, and attended schools in Perham and Presque Isle, ME.  He was a U.S. Navy Veteran of WW I and had served on the U.S.S. Arizona.  He had the opportunity to visit the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, HI in 1992 where he was honored as the oldest surviving crew member.

Mr. Lang was a longtime Grafton resident and had been a self-employed carpenter for many years.  He helped build many area buildings and was actively involved in the renovations of the Grafton Congregational Church.  He was a member of the American Legion Post of Grafton and was the recipient of Grafton’s Boston Post Cane.

He had a great love of the younger generation and always enjoyed sharing information on carpentry and lessons in life.

Friends called at the Ricker Funeral Home in Enfield on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. and funeral services were conducted on Monday at the Grafton Center Congregational Church at 2 p.m. with the Rev, Thomas Warner officiating.  Burial will be at a later date in the Grafton Center Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Building Fund of the Grafton Center Congressional Church, P.O. Box 126, Grafton, NH  03240.

Survivors include:  his wife, Ernestine (Bartlett) Lang of Grafton, a step-son, Herman Hall of Goffstown, NH, a grandson, Greg Lang of Altadena, CA and two nieces.  He was preceded in death by his son, Elmer Lang and a daughter, Margaret Lang, several brothers and sisters.