Obituaries 5-22-07

Daniel (Junior) Orvis

BRISTOL - Daniel (Junior) Orvis, 82 died Monday May 7, 2007 at Porter Medical Center in Middlebury.

   He was born January 24, 1925 in Middlesex, the son of Daniel and Myrtie May (Wright) Orvis.

   He worked at Johnson Lumber Mill and Polymers for many years. Also, he worked at Bristol Landfill. He enjoyed helping his friends and family, avid Red Sox Fan, telling stories, and enjoyed being friends with everyone.

   Predeceased by his wife Ollie (Smalley) Orvis in 1974.

   Daniel is survived by his sister Viola (Orvis) Dzielinski of Terryville, Conn.; several nieces, nephews, great & great great nieces and nephews; special friends Peter and Karen Wisell and their children; special thanks to Pat Milaezo his caregiver for the past five years. Predeceased by five brothers Milo, Clifford, Elmer, Marshall, Otto and a sister Velma.

   Funeral services were held Thursday May 10th at Brown McClay Funeral Home in Bristol. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Bristol.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Addison County Home Health & Hospice Route 7 Middlebury, VT 05753.

Pardon E. Tillinghast

MIDDLEBURY - Professor Pardon E. Tillinghast, 87, died Sunday, May 13, 2007 at Rutland Regional Hospital in Rutland, Vermont

    He was born April 19, 1920 in Providence, RI, the son of Frederick and Helen Darling Tillinghast.

    He graduated from Brown University after serving in the Naval Cavalry during WWII. He became a instructor in history at Middlebury College in 1947, and shortly thereafter received his Ph.D. in history from Harvard University. The Pardon Tillinghast Chair in History, Philosophy, and Religion was endowed in 1985; he retired from Middlebury College in 1990. He delighted in watching his students catch fire during the interplay of ideas in his courses; the relationships he formed with them and others were unusually strong and long-lasting. His love for his family and faith also sustained him.

    Pardon is survived by his two children, Margaret T. and her husband Rev. Daniel S. Wright of Weybridge; Elizabeth T. Oettinger of Somers, NY; a son-in-law Dr. Sanford Shaw of Stony Brook, NY; four grandchildren: Jared Wright, Nathan, Christopher, Andrew, and Megan Shaw; and seven great-grandchildren. Predeceased by his beloved former wife Ellen C. Tillinghast, and by his daughter Nancy T. Shaw.

    A funeral service was held on Friday, May 18th at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Middlebury, the Rev. Terence P. Gleeson officiating.  Interment at the Weybridge Hill Cemetery will be private at a later date.     There will be no public calling hours. A memorial service at Middlebury College will also be held at a later date. In  lieu of flowers contributions may be made to St. Stephen’s Church, PO Box 233, Middlebury, VT 05753 or to Middlebury College: Attn. Ann Crumb, Munford House, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753. Brown-McClay Funeral Home in Bristol, Vermont will be in charge of arrangements.

Elizabeth (Bette) S. Pratt

MIDDLEBURY-Elizabeth (Bette) Pratt died May 14, 2007 at her home in Middlebury surrounded by her family. She was born May 14,1930 in Whiting Vermont the daughter of Frank L. Swenor and Emma Fortier. She attended elementary school in Whiting and graduated from Troy High School. In 1951 she married Stanton I. Pratt of Cornwall and together they raised 9 children. She worked outside the home at a variety of jobs but her children and grandchildren were the center of her life. She had a generous spirit and enjoyed many happy hours helping out at Happy Valley Orchard and at Oliver Hill Farm.

   She is survived by her husband Joseph Emile Desautels of Middlebury;daughters:Cheryl Pratt Rivers of Stockbridge, Kathy P. Gilman of White Plains,North Carolina, Laura E. Pratt of Northfield, Melanie L. Pratt of Leicester;sons:Stanton I Pratt of Middlebury, Alan H. Pratt of Cornwall, Johnathan E. Pratt of Brandon,Christopher H. Pratt of Middlebury, and Randall M. Pratt of of Orman, Utah;a brother Russel W. Swenor of Bethlehem, PA, and 18 grandchildren.

 A private graveside ceremony for family was held on Saturday May 19th. Memorial contributions may be made to Addison Community Action/CVOEO PO Box 82 Middlebury, Vt. 05772 or Addison County Home Health & Hospice,Inc.PO Box 754 Middlebury, Vt. 05753

HELEN E. BISHOP SULLIVAN

MIDDLEBURY - Helen E. Bishop Sullivan, age 89, passed away Tuesday May 15, 2007 at Helen Porter Health and Rehabilitation in Middlebury. She was born in Benson, Vermont, June 11, 1917 the daughter of Louis and Florence (Smith) Bishop.

   Helen was married to J. Bernard Sullivan, August 4, 1938 in Shoreham. She lived on the family farm where she worked and raised her eight children. Helen also worked at the VanRaalte clothing company in Middlebury. In her later years she also worked as an Aide at Porter Hospital and at CPC in Middlebury. She was a member of St. Genevieve Catholic Church and the St. Genevieve Women’s Guild in Shoreham.

   Helen was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother keeping herself busy caring for her family and friends, reading knitting and quilting.

   She is survived by her three sons and their spouses, Mike Sullivan and his wife Cindy of Toone, Tennessee, George Sullivan and his wife Lorraine of Orrington, Maine, John Sullivan and his wife Robin of Orwell; 5 Daughters, Maureen Sullivan of Catskill, New York, Virginia Gainer and her husband Robert of Lancaster, New Hampshire, Mary Blaise and her companion Ron Kane of Great Barrington, Mass., Jane Bouton and her husband Scott of Shoreham, and Kathleen Oliver and her husband John of Sylacauga, Alabama; one sister in law, Alma (Sullivan) Coffey of Deland, Florida.

   She is also survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.

   She is predeceased by her husband, Bernard in 1978 and her granddaughter, Lori Blaise in 2004

    A Funeral Mass in celebration of her life will be held on Saturday JUNE 30th, at 10:00 AM in St. Genevieve Catholic Church, Shoreham. The Rev. Justin Baker, Pastor will officiate. Graveside committal services and interment will follow in St. Genevieve Cemetery, Shoreham. A Reception will follow at the Shoreham Congregational Church Fellowship Hall.

   Memorial Contributions in Helen’s Memory may be made to the St. Genevieve Women’s Guild, c/o Phyllis Allen, 244 Barnum Hill Rd. Shoreham, VT 05770, The Shoreham First Response 297 Main Street Shoreham, VT 05770, Addison County Home Health and Hospice, P.O. Box 754 Middlebury, VT 05753, or the Middlebury Vol. Ambulance Assoc, P.O. Box 504, Middlebury Vt 05753.

   Arrangements are under the care of Mallory Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Fair Haven, VT.

GRACE KELTON

MIDDLEBURY - Grace Martha (Newton) Kelton, 95, our beloved mother, grandmother, and great –grandmother passed from this life peacefully in her sleep on May 15, 2007 at Shard Villa, Salisbury, VT.

    Grace was a life long resident of Middlebury.  She was born December 27, 1911, the daughter of Jennie (Hurlburt) and Fred Newton at the former Newton farm on Rt. 7  South, Middlebury.  She attended the Cady School and graduated from Middlebury High School in 1927.  She was proud to be a member of the 1927 class which started the Dorey Cup, awarded to two outstanding male and female students each year.

    Grace and Raymond Kelton were married on June 19, 1929 at St. Mary’s Church, Middlebury.  They lived on Seymour St. as they raised their family.  Grace was the bookkeeper at the Middlebury Co-op Freeze Locker for many years.  Later she worked as the bookkeeper at the Dog Team Tavern and did floral work at Cole’s Florist.

    Grace was gifted in many ways.  Her creativity expressed itself in her many paintings, her flower gardens, floral arrangements, embroidery, sewing and cooking.  She was able to maintain her flower gardens until she was 90.  But above all her family was her greatest love and source of pride.  She followed her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren’s pursuits and accomplishments and was their biggest fan.  She hosted many family dinners accented by her famous potato salad, veggie casserole and chocolate brownies.  Grace enjoyed the simple joys of life: her home, her art, her gardens, reading and watching birds at her feeders, and visiting with family and friends.

    Grace is survived by two daughters and two sons-Barbara and Stuart Danforth of Tolland, CT., and Helen O’ Toole of Middlebury, Raymond Jr,, and Joan of Middlebury, and Howard and Linda of East Middlebury, 14 grandchildren, 17 great-grand children and 1 great-great grandchild, nieces, nephews and cousins.  She was predeceased by her husband in 1979, her parents, her siblings: Lillian Latterell, Madeline Day, Howard, Roy, Clarence, Archie and Harold.

    A memorial service was held on  Saturday May 19, 2007 at the East Middlebury Methodist Church.  Rev. Jill Robinson officiating.   Burial will be at the Foote St. Cemetery in Middlebury.

    Her family extends its gratitude to the nurses and staff of Addison County Home Health and Hospice, and the staff of Shard Villa, also, to the George Foster Jr., family for their assistance for many years.

    In lieu of flowers please send donations to Addison County Home Health and Hospice, P.O. Box 754, Middlebury, VT   05753.

    Arrangements are under the direction of Sanderson Funeral Service, 117 South Main St.  Middlebury.