Jane McGoldrick

Jane McGoldrick, 87, of South Lunenburg Road, Lunenburg, Vt., died Monday evening, Oct. 15, 2018, at Weeks Medical Center, Lancaster, N.H.

Mrs. McGoldrick was born in Lunenburg on March 10, 1931, the daughter of Don and Dorothy (Pond) Colby. She was raised in Lunenburg and was a graduate of Lancaster Academy. For many years she resided with her late husband, Robert W. McGoldrick, in Springfield, Vt. During her years there she worked for several companies including the Vermont National Bank, Johnson & Dix Fuel, Vermont Research and Springfield Hospital. In 2007 she returned to Lunenburg. Jane has been employed at Aunt Sadie’s Candles, Lunenburg, until the last few recent weeks due to her failing health

In her spare time she enjoyed quilting, gardening, reading, baking and her daily two mile walks. She also participated in the annual Walk MS in Portsmouth, N.H., raising donations for Multiple Sclerosis.

Surviving family members include her son James McGoldrick of Springfield and Lunenburg; two sisters, Patricia Briggs of Lunenburg and Constance Gamell of St. Johnsbury; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by Robert in 2010 and a daughter Donna McGoldrick in 2008.

A celebration of life will be held Sunday, Oct. 28th at 2 p.m. at the Lunenburg Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements are under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home in Lancaster. Please go to www.baileyfh.net for more information or to send an online condolence.

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Hugh Taft

Hugh Taft, a resident of Kendal in Hanover NH, died May 3, 2016, peacefully with family at his side.

He was born and raised in Wallingford VT, the youngest of six children of Raymond and Maud Taft. An excellent student at Wallingford High, Hugh earned admission to Middlebury College, class of 1944. He entered their 3-2 program which earned him a BA degree from Middlebury and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1947. His service in the U.S. Navy (Electrician’s Mate) came between his last 2 college years.

Hugh’s first job was with Baxter D. Whitney in Winchendon MA, in 1947. He met the love of his life, Barbara Lee Pauli of Rutland, VT, in 1947; they married in 1949 and remained a devoted couple for 67 years. They moved to Springfield VT in 1950 where Hugh joined Bryant Chucking Grinder Corp. as a mechanical engineer.

Hugh and Barbara were members of the UCC church in Springfield and sang in the church choir for 49 years. Hugh was a member of the Springfield Rotary Club, and an enthusiastic hiker and skier; he and the family were regulars at Mount Ascutney.

In 1960, Hugh left Bryant and joined with two local business partners to form Vermont Research Corp, which became a leading manufacturer of magnetic memory drums for the emerging computer industry. VRC employed several hundred people in their North Springfield plant in a variety of engineering and precision manufacturing jobs for nearly two decades.

In his retirement, Hugh was able to devote more time to his great interest in trees, and cultivated a sizable arboretum on their property. He and Barbara moved to Kendal in 1999.

He is survived by son, Roderic, and his wife, Christine, of Medfield MA; daughter, Martha Taft, and her husband, Fred Weiss of Washington, DC; son-in-law, Jeffrey Taft-Dick of Springfield VT; plus 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Hugh was predeceased by his wife, Barbara, just two months ago; daughter, Pamela Taft-Dick; and daughter, Paula Taft.

A memorial service will be held at the First Congregational Church UCC in Springfield, VT, on May 21, 2016, at 11 a.m. To view an online memorial or send a message of condolence to the family, please visit www.rand-wilson.com Arrangements are under the direction of the Rand-Wilson Funeral Home of Hanover, NH.

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Thelma M. Graham, 95

Thelma M. Graham, 95, of Chester, died at the home of her daughter and caregiver, Theresa, on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016. She was born June 20, 1920, in Chester, the daughter of Burnam and Mary ( Raymond ) Snide. She attended Springfield Schools. During World War II, Mrs. Graham worked at factories in Connecticut to help with the war effort. In 1943, she married George D. Graham, who predeceased her in 1954.

She worked with Vermont Research in Springfield for more than 14 years. She enjoyed crocheting and made many things for her friends and family. She enjoyed the outdoors and bird watching, especially cardinals and hummingbirds.

She is survived by three daughters Nettie Gruber of Crested Butte, Colo., Debbie Franz of Powell, Wyo., and Theresa Hooker of Springfield; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren; one brother, Irving Snide of Bellows Falls; four sisters Mildred Smith, Violet Johnson, Doris Clark all of Springfield, and Laura Bedi of Ludlow; many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by a daughter, Katherine Fletcher, and several brothers and sisters.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, at Davis Memorial Chapel in Springfield. A graveside service will be held in Oakland Cemetery in the spring.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 434 Hurricane Lane, Williston, VT 05495.

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