Category: Uncategorized

Phyllis C. Withington

From the August 6, 2001 issue of The Country Chronicle

Canaan, NH–Phyliss C. Withington, 75, of Canaan died suddenly on Monday, July 30, 2001 at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon. She was born in Orange, NH on June 29, 1926 the daughter of Pearl and Bertha (Grace) Cross. She was a lifelong resident of this area and was married to Robert H. Withington on June 29, 1953. Mrs. Withington had been employed at Dartmouth College for many years before her retirement in 1988. She enjoyed crafts work and camping with her family. She is survived by her husband of Canaan, two children-Diane Boisvert of Claremont and Douglas Withington of Canaan, three granddaughters, two great-grandchildren, two sisters-Dorothy Kendall of Canaan and Gloria Machon of Vicksburg, MS, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a sister, Ellen Gowing and a brother, George Cross.

Friends called at the Ricker Funeral Home in Enfield on Thursday evening from 7-9 pm. Funeral services were held at the Canaan United Methodist Church Friday at 11 am with the Rev. Patricia Williams officiating. Burial followed in the Wells Cemetery in Canaan.

William A. LaFountain

From the August 6, 2001 issue of The Country Chronicle

Enfield, NH–William A. LaFountain, 90, died Saturday, July 28, 2001 at the Veterans Hospital in White River Jct., VT following a brief illness. He was born in Chicopee Falls, MA on October 13, 1910, a son of the late Albert & Sophie (Murk) LaFountain, and as a young boy had lived on his father’s freighter. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of WWII and served as a canoneer with the 172nd Field Artillery. A resident of Enfield, NH since 1930, he had worked as an auto mechanic for several years and was the owner/operator of Bill’s Tidol Station. He later went into the carpentry business. He was known as a man who never said “no” to anyone, and would do anything for anyone regardless of their ability to pay. Mr. LaFountain was a member of the Elks for over 30 years. He was married June 1, 1983 to Marion L. (Smith) at St. Helena’s Church in Enfield. Mrs. LaFountain died October 19, 1993.

He was predeceased by his wife, two sisters-Sylvia LaFountain and Laura LaFountain, and a brother, Francis LaFountain. Mr. LaFountain leaves several nieces and nephews.

Friends called at the Ricker Funeral Home on Rte 4 in Enfield on Tuesday evening from 7-9 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Wednesday morning at 10 am in St. Helena’s Church in Enfield with the Rev. Paul Rainville M.S. officiating. Burial followed in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Enfield, NH.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in memory of Mr. LaFountain may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

Barbara M. Christ

From the August 13, 2001 issue of The Country Chronicle

Harrison, AR–Barbara M. Christ, 50, died suddenly at her home in Harrison, AR on July 30, 2001.

She was born May 19, 1951 in Manchester, NH, daughter of Margaret (Connoly) and Robert G. Bressett. She was educated in the Manchester schools and graduated from St. Anselm’s College with a B.S. RN.

She enlisted in the U.S. Army Medical Corps becoming an anesthesiologist and was assigned to duty in Germany where she met her husband, Paul Christ.

After their retirement in 2000 they relocated to Arkansas.

Survivors include her husband, parents, sister, Ann Nistler of Sartell, MN and a niece and nephew.

Interment will be in Arkansas at later date.

Dorothy M. Evans

From the August 13, 2001 issue of The Country Chronicle

Enfield, NH–Dorothy M. Evans, 96, died Friday evening, August 3, 2001 at the Woodlawn Nursing Home in Newport. She was born on November 4, 1904 in Enfield a daughter of Peter and Adeline (Bilodeau) Evans. She attended Enfield schools and graduated from Enfield High School in 1922.

In 1930 she moved to Westwood, NJ working as a dental assistant and later as a laboratory technician for 29 years at Lederle Laboratories, a subsidiary of American Cyanamid. She served 10 years in the Mycology Department under Dr. Benjamin M. Duggar, who discovered aureomycin.

She enjoyed crossword puzzles and traveling. She drove to California for the first time in 1933 and drove 75 years without having a single accident. Her retirement years were spent between West Palm Beach, FL and Enfield until 1998 when traveling to Florida became difficult. She has experienced many enjoyable days at the Upper Valley Senior Center. She loved people and everyone she met became a friend.

She was predeceased by six bothers and five sisters. Although she never married, several nieces, nephews, and their families survive her.

There were no calling hours. A memorial mass was held Saturday, August 11 at 11 a.m. at the St. Helena’s Church in Enfield with the Rev. Paul Rainville, M.S. officiating. Burial followed in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Enfield.

The family suggested in lieu of flowers that memorial contributions be made in her name to St. Helena’s Church, 36 Shaker Hill Rd., Enfield, NH 03748 or to The Upper Valley Senior Citizens Center, 10 Campbell St., Lebanon, NH 03766.

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

Deneal Albert Amos

From the June 18, 2001 issue of The Country Chronicle

Roxbury, MA–Deneal Albert Amos, 73, died Tuesday, June 14, 2001 at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in West Roxbury, MA.

He was born January 22, 1928, in San Francisco, CA, the son of Albert and Audrey Amos.

Deneal Amos was originally from San Francisco, CA. He worked his way through school; graduating from Lowell High School in 1945. He spent a year at Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR, a semester at the all-male University of San Francisco, a Jesuit school, and then graduated from the University of California at Berekely in 1949, majoring at Marketing and Analysis. He dropped out of Hastings Law School during the post-war depression and spent a couple of years scrambling to stay alive before finally going into the Army. (His draft letter came in the same mail with three serious job offers.)

He got his commission as a training officer on the day the Korean War ended, taking an early discharge on condition that he return to school. This he did, determined to continue the attempt to realize his father’s ideal of the Renaissance man.

Scholar, Athlete, Philosopher, Warrior, Poet, Musician and Artist. He had enough GI benefits for five years of study in the Social Sciences and the Humanities. In the end, he opted out of going for an advanced degree on the grounds that he was going to school for wisdom – not a better job opportunity.

Along the way Deneal worked as a teacher, administrator, clerk, farmhand, warehouseman, playground director, painter, house and fine cook, waiter, janitor and postal clerk, driver and carrier. When he returned to graduate school he majored in Education, the Social Sciences and Eastern thought. A life-changing spiritual experience confirmed him in his belief that the key to realizing the democratic ideal lay in an educated and informed citizenry, and the determination of everyone in any community to work for the benefit of others. He took the vow of Boddhisattva in 1956 – “I shall not rest until all sentient beings are liberated” – before he knew anything of meditation or Boddhisattvas. Mr. Amos’ educational ventures included:

Starting SameCon – the School of the Art of Moral and Ethical Conduct – a school for the art of living in 1957.

Helping start one of the first of the organized Experimental College at San Francisco State College in 1957.

“Grandfather” of Emerson College in Pacific Grove, CA in 1960.

Started New Canaan Academy in Putney, VT in 1975.

Teaching at Windham College in Putney, VT; Mark Hopkins College in Brattleboro, VT; Plymouth State College in Plymouth, NH; and acting as Meditation teacher/advisor at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. He was active at Kendal at Hanover, Dartmouth College and Plymouth State College, teaching tai chi chuan and meditation. He was a member of Dartmouth College Campus Ministry. He will be remembered by the people whose lives he touched, the noontime basketball group and the breakfast crew at Lou’s Restaurant.

Survivors include his partner, Anita Beloin; a sister, Betty; his children, Bodhi, Hui Neng, Aishya, and Kaivallya; and grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Calling hours were Friday from 6-8 pm and Saturday from 4-6 pm at Rand Wilson Funeral Home in Hanover, NH. A memorial service will be held Sunday at 3 pm at Rollins Chapel in Hanover.

Robert D. “Bob” Grant

From the July 2, 2001 issue of The Country Chronicle

W. Canaan, NH–Robert D. “Bob” Grant, 63, died Tuesday, June 26, 2001 at his home in West Canaan following a long illness. He was born in Hanover, NH, November 18, 1937. He grew up in Bridgewater, VT and graduated from Woodstock (VT) High School in 1957. He had been a resident of W. Canaan for the last 34 years. Bob had been a truck driver for Twin State Fruit for many years and had also served as a bus driver for the Mascoma School District for 10 years. He was a member of the Lebanon Lodge of Elks for 34 years; was a member of the VT National Grange; had been a State of NH Deputy Forest Fire Warden for several years; was the representative from the Canaan Fire Dept. to the Upper Valley Mutual Aid Association for several years; and had been a member of the Canaan Volunteer Fire Dept. for 22 years, retiring as a First Lieutenant in February 2001. He was an avid deer hunter and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

He leaves his wife of 36 years, Pauline (Bellavance) Grant of West Canaan, NH, whom he married June 5, 1965; his mother: Ramona Welch of Wilder, VT; his foster-mother: Pearl Townsend of Bridgewater Corners, VT; a son: Douglas P. Grant of Lebanon, NH; a daughter: Rebecca C. Jones of Canaan, NH; a foster-son: Fred Cummings of Canaan, NH; several brothers and sisters; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was pre-deceased by his foster-father: Paul Townsend.

Friends called at the Ricker Funeral Home in Lebanon on Friday evening from 6-9. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Saturday morning at 10 am at the Sacred Heart Church of Lebanon. Burial followed in the Sacred Heart Cemetery with a reception in the church hall following the services.

The family requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to: The Visiting Nurse Alliance of VT and NH (VNA/VNH), 20 S. Main St., White River Jct., VT 05001 or to: Hospice of the Upper Valley, 325 Mt. Support Rd., Lebanon, NH 03766.

Harry E. Powell

From the April 24, 2000 issue of The Country Chronicle

Orange, NH–Graveside Committal Services for Harry E. Powell, who died March 11, 2000 at the age of 97, will be held Saturday April 29 at 2 pm in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Grafton, NH. The Rev. Patricia Williams will officiate. The Ricker Funeral Home of Lebanon is in charge of arrangements.

Christian McConnell McVey

from the April 24, 2000 issue of The Country Chronicle

Canaan, NH–Graveside Committal Services for Christain McConnell McVey, who died January 12, 2000 at the age of 91, will be held Monday April 24 at 1:00 pm in the Canaan Street Cemetery in Canaan, NH. Rev. Patricia Williams will officiate. The Ricker Funeral Home of Lebanon is in charge of arrangements.

Leslie Edward Rogers, Jr.

From the April 24, 2000 issue of The Country Chronicle

Canaan, NH–Leslie Edward Rogers, Jr., 64, died on Sunday April 16, 2000. He was born on November 12, 1935 in Bristol, PA to Leslie E. Rogers, Sr. and Marie (VanSoest) Rogers. He attended Bristol, PA schools and worked for 31 years as a postal service executive. He was employed by the Bristol, PA Post Office for many years and had served as Postmaster of the Ft. Washington, PA Post Office for 10 years. He and his wife of 46 years, Marion (Gorman) Rogers, retired to Canaan where Mr. Rogers worked at the Cardigan Mt. School in the athletic maintenance department.

He was predeceased by: Leslie E. Rogers, Sr., father and Marie Rogers, mother

He is survived by: Marion (Gorman) Rogers, wife, of Canaan; Stephen and Leslie III, sons, both of Canaan; Timothy, son, of Philadelphia, PA; Andrew, son, of Anderson, SC; Regina Wiseman, daughter, of Jersey Shore, PA; Jennifer Kahn, daughter, of Canaan; Judith Chaffee, sister, of Leavittown, PA; 17 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild

There will be no calling hours and a private memorial service will be held at a later date. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made in his name to Marion Rogers, RD#1 Box 112A, Canaan, NH 03741, to establish a memorial garden in his memory. Ricker Funeral Home of Lebanon, NH is in charge of arrangements.

Albert George Belloir

From the April 24, 2000 issue of The Country Chronicle

Grafton, NH– Albert George Belloir, 68, died Saturday, April 22, 2000, at the Veterans Affair Hospital in White River Junction, VT following a long illness. He was born in Grafton, NH on March 31, 1932, a son of the late George L. and Lennie (Morse) Belloir. A lifelong Grafton resident, he attended local schools and was a U.S. Army Veteran. He had owned and operated his own drilling, lasting, and excavating business; had worked for Hazen Lumber Co., and had worked for Palazzi Construction Co. He was a member of the American Legion, and enjoyed bird-watching, gardening and visiting his friends.

He is survived by: Brothers, Lester E. of Franklin, NH, Lawrence E. of W. Canaan; Shirley R. of Andover, NH, and John D. of Franklin, NH; Sisters, Laura Hewitt of Grafton, NH, Barbara E. Cote of Bristol, NH, Avis M. Huckins of Milford, NH; and Frances E. Blanchard of Limington, ME; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by: George L. Belloir, Sr., father; Lennie Belloir, mother; and George L. Belloir, Jr., brother, who died on Nov. 30, 1998.

Friends may call at the Ricker Funeral Home, Rte. 4, Enfield, Tuesday evening from 7-9 pm. Graveside committal services will be held on Sunday, April 30 at 2 pm in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Grafton, NH. The Rev. Thomas Warner will officiate.

Memorial contributions in memory of Mr. Belloir may be made to: The Grafton Historical Society, c/o Town Offices, Grafton, NH 03204.