Robert Thayer Deyo

Robert Thayer Deyo, 78, of Pine Street died Friday, March 31, 2017.

He was born in West Brattleboro, VT on January 23, 1939, the son of Wilfred and Belle (Thayer) Deyo. He attended schools in Brattleboro and served in the US Army. Robert worked as a cobbler at Bob's Shoe Repair and was a 45 year member, and past commander, of the American Legion in Springfield VT. He loved trains, going out to eat, and NASCAR.

On December 11, 1999 he married Carolyn Blake who survives. Also surviving are his sons Roger Deyo of Springfield, VT and Samuel Colby of Hardwick, VT; his daughter Susannah Colby of Sharon, VT; and his grandchildren Raelynn and Noah Colby.

There will be a memorial service 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 15th at the Assembly of God Church in Springfield, VT. Burial will take place in the Vermont Veterans Cemetery in Randolph, VT at the convenience of the family.

Condolences may be sent to the family c/o The Assembly of God Church, 269 River Street, Springfield, VT 05156.

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Ronald K. Walker

Ronald K. Walker, 69, of Springfield, passed away Sunday evening, Oct. 2, 2016, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, surrounded by his family. He was born Dec. 20, 1946, in Brattleboro, Vermont, the son of Wilfred and Ruth (Rogers) Walker. He attended Springfield schools and graduated from Springfield High School Class of 1964. He later attended Hawthorne College and the Police Academy. Ron served in the United States Marine Corps 1st Battalion 9th Marines in Vietnam, where he was a recipient of the Purple Heart. After meeting in December 1981, he married Elizabeth A. Gibbs on Aug. 16, 2003.

He worked in the machine tool industry, the postal service, as a car salesman and was employed as an officer with the Springfield Police Department, the Woodstock Police Department, the Windsor Police Department and the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department. After retiring from police work, Ron worked at Kmart in Claremont for 10 years.

He was an Life Member and Past Commander of the V.F.W. Post 771 in Springfield, an active member of Vietnam Veterans Association, American Legion Post 67 in Chester, St. John’s Masonic Lodge 41 F. & A.M. in Springfield, the Springfield Lions Club, the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, and a member of the 1 9 National Organization. He was also a Shriner with the Springfield Clown Unit. Ron organized and was proud to bring the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall to Springfield. Ron also worked with Honor Flight New England to organize and fund raise to send Springfield area veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials.


He enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, motorcycle riding, traveling and visiting with family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Liz, of Baltimore, Vermont, son Chris Walker of Smithfield, Virginia; daughter Deborah Walker of Chester; grandchildren, Bailey, Elliott, Molly, Brooke, Colt, Addie and Quinn; brother Craig Colson of New Mexico, sister Darnice Cook of Maine; special nieces and nephews, Lexi, Nick, Leanne, Samantha and Erika; close friends Ronald, Art, Roy and Jim; also by many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, Wilfred and Ruth.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at the Davis Memorial Chapel in Springfield. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Riverside Middle School Gymnasium in Springfield. Burial will be at a later date at the Vermont Veterans Cemetery in Randolph Center, Vermont. Contributions may be made in his memory to Honor Flight New England,1193 Hooksett Rd #2, Hooksett, NH 03106.

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Kathryn M. Kesek, 86

Kathryn M. Kesek, 86, of Atkinson Street in Bellows Falls, died Thursday, April 7, 2016, at the Helen Porter Healthcare and Rehab Center in Middlebury, Vermont.

Kay was born Nov. 26, 1929, in Weathersfield, the daughter of Elwin J. and Nellie V. (Heald) Spaulding. She graduated from Springfield High School in 1947. Following her marriage to Robert Sherwood in 1953, she moved to Bellows Falls, where she lived the rest of her life. Kay was active in many local organizations such as the Bellows Falls Moose Club, the American Legion Auxiliary and the VFW Auxiliary. She was honored in 2011 with the Governor's Award for Outstanding Community Service for her work with groups such as RSVP, Women of the Moose, Red Cross Blood Drive and the Bellows Falls Community kitchen. The award was personally presented to her by Gov. Peter Shumlin at the Vermont Statehouse.

Kay married Walter A. Kesek on Dec. 27, 1971. They lived a full and active life together until his death in 1999.

Kay is survived by four sons, Richard Sherwood and wife Harriette of Chester, Walter J. Kesek of Bellows Falls, Mark Kesek of West Swanzey, New Hampshire and David Kesek of Warren, New Hampshire; three daughters, Jean Kuhn and husband, Bryant of Westminster, Lorraine Dotson and husband Stephen of Center Rutland, Vermont and Mary Davis and husband Kenneth of Athens, Vermont; along with 13 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her grandson, Avery Sherwood; her brother, Irwin Spaulding; her sister, Carrie Guild; and her son, George Kesek.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at Fenton and Hennessy Funeral Home in Bellows Falls. Officiating will be Rev. Hannah K. Rogers. Calling hours will be held from 12 to 2 p.m., with a short prayer service at 1 p.m. by the Women of the Moose. A private burial will take place at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made in Kay’s memory to Mooseheart International, 155 S. International Dr., Mooseheart, IL 60539-1118; or to the Alzheimers Association, Vermont and New Hampshire Chapter, 172 N. Main St., Barre, VT 05641-4124.

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Elizabeth Merritt, 78

Elizabeth Merritt, 78, of Chester, passed away Monday, Feb. 8, 2016, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon. She was born June 2, 1937, in Springfield, the daughter of Rosario and Laura (Buskey) Pignato. She attended Springfield schools and graduated from Springfield High School, Class of 1955. On Oct. 19, 1957, she married Thomas Merritt in Springfield. They resided in the Chester area for many years.

She worked at Bryant Grinder Corporation in Springfield, Mack Molding in Cavendish, and later worked as a seamstress for the Tony Totes Company. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary 67 in Chester, and a member of the VFW Post 771 Auxiliary in Springfield. She enjoyed camping, gardening, playing bingo and cribbage and spending time with her family.

She is survived by her husband Thomas of Chester; three sons, Robert Merritt of Springfield, Richard Merritt of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and James Merritt of Charlestown; one daughter, Carol Batchelder of Rockingham; one sister, Pauline Lehoullier of Johnson, Vermont; seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by an infant son, Alden; two brothers, Joseph Pignato and Patsy Pignato, and two sisters, Mary Wyman and Victoria Davis.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 14, at the Simonsville Cemetery in Andover, Vermont. Reverend Gail Kindberg will officiate. A gathering will follow the service and the location will be announced at a later date. Contributions may be made in her memory to the Norris Cotton Cancer Center One Medical Center Drive Lebanon, NH 03766. Arrangements are under the direction of the Davis Memorial Chapel in Springfield.

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John J. Oliver Jr., 83

John J. Oliver Jr., 83, passed away Thursday morning, Feb. 4, 2016, at Springfield Health & Rehabilitation Center. He was born June 5, 1932, in Perkinsville, the son of John J. Sr. and Margaret (Gallagher) Oliver. He attended Perkinsville schools and graduated from Springfield High School Class of 1950. He was also a graduate of Tractor Trailer and Heavy Equipment Schools.

He was a veteran of the United States Army, and then served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. On May 8, 1965, he married Nylene Wheeler in Chester. She predeceased him Feb. 16, 2013. A native of Perkinsville, he moved to Ocala, Florida in 1988, where he made his home until returning to Vermont in 2013. He was employed as a truck driver in the area for many years. He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, a member of the VFW, the Marine Corps League and the American Legion.

He is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; his wife, Nylene; three brothers, Lawrence, Christopher and Alfred; and by one sister, Irene Durland.

A funeral mass will be celebrated in the spring at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Springfield, with burial to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Springfield Humane Society, 401 Skitchewaug Trail, Springfield, VT 05156. Arrangements are under the direction of the Davis Memorial Chapel in Springfield.

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Ian Bernard McGrath, 52

Ian Bernard McGrath, 52, of Potash Brook Road in Chester, Vermont, died suddenly Friday, Jan. 15, 2016, at his home,

Ian was born Sept. 1, 1963, in Edinburgh, Scotland, the son of Bernard and Mary Donaldson McGrath. He was a 1981 graduate of Bellows Falls Union High School and worked for the Vermont Country Store. He served for six years in the United States Marines during the first Gulf War. Ian was a member of the American Legion in Chester and the VFW in Chester.

Ian is survived by three sons, Callum, Ewan and Graeme McGrath all of Chester; one daughter, Caitlyn McGrath of Chester; his mother, Mary McGrath of Ludlow, Vermont; his brother, Barton McGrath of Saxtons River; and his girlfriend, Holly Clayton. Ian was predeceased by his father in 2015.

Calling hours will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, at the Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls. Funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family.

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Howard L. Batchelder, 88

Howard L. Batchelder, 88, died at his home in Springfield on Jan. 3, 2016.

He was born Sept. 10, 1927, in Peru, son of Earl M. and Rachel (Abbot) Batchelder. He attended schools in Peru and Chittenden before serving in the Marines during World War II.

After returning home from the war, he operated Howard's Texaco in Londonderry, and later the Gulf Station on River Street for many years before going to work for Jones & Lamson for 27 years in the assembly and services departments.

In 1947 Mr. Batchelder was married to Beverly Bayliss, who predeceased him in 1962. Mr. Batchelder was a member of both the American Legion & VFW in Manchester.

Mr. Batchelder is survived by four daughters, Linda Batchelder of North Springfield, Diane Ingalls of Perkinsville, Jan Wright of Weathersfield and Shirley Jasinski of Burlington; two sons, Bruce Batchelder of Springfield and Michael Batchelder of Taylorsville, N.C.; grandchildren; great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and longtime companion Susan Barrett.

He was predeceased by his son Lyle Batchelder, his daughter Patricia Cahill, his brother Herbert "Buddy" Batchelder and his sister Christine O'Brien.

A Memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 11, 2016, at the Davis Memorial Chapel in Springfield. A graveside service will be held in the Village Cemetery in Peru in the spring. The Rev. Thomas Charlton, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Chester, will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to VNA & Hospice of Southern Vt. and N.H., P.O. Box 976 White River Junction, VT 05001. Arrangements are by Davis Memorial Chapel in Springfield.

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