Milestones

College news

• The following local students recently earned degrees from Union Institute & University: Miranda Bemis of Jacksonville earned a Master of Education, John Petty of Putney has earned a Doctor of Psychology with a focus in clinical psychology, and Erin Berard of Brattleboro has earned a Master of Arts with a focus in clinical mental health counseling.

Obituaries

• Donald J. Blanchflower, 81, of Rockingham. Died Nov. 4. Soulmate of Brenda Burke of Rockingham. Father of James Blanchflower of Westford, Mass., Shawn Burke of Westminster, and Michael Burke of Burlington, Lorry Blanchflower of Fitchburg, Mass., Donna Whitmore of Uxbridge, Mass., Janet Boucher of Lunenburg, Mass., Lyn Cusanello of Uncasville, Conn., and Amy Joy of Bellows Falls. Brother of Rob­ert Blanchflower of Leominster, Mass.; Virginia Yeag­er of Las Vegas, Nev., Dorothy Viva-Amore of Leominster, Mass., Elizabeth Shellpark of Gloucester, Mass., Nancy Keane of Fitchburg, Mass., and the late Richard Blanchflower. Born in Clinton, Mas­s., the son of the late James and Helen (Clark) Blanchflower, he attended Lancaster public schools and Leominster Trade School. He was co-owner of the family business, Lancaster Sterling Lumber Company, and owner and operator of Blanchflower Lumber Company in Alstead, N.H. He was a member of the American Legion, the Polish American Club, the Loyal Order of the Moose, the Elks, the Bellows Falls Country Club, and Hooper Country Club. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Nov. 9 at Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls. Burial will be at a later date in the Old Settlers Burial Field in Lancaster, Mass. Donations to the American Cancer Society, 55 Day Lane, Williston, VT 05494 or to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund, 26 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10004.

• Gilbert A. John­son, 72, of Guilford. Died Nov. 6 at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Husband of Rene Bentley Miller for 28 years. Father of Christopher Johnson and his wife, Mariko, of Leavenworth, Kan.; David Johnson of Dal­las, Texas, and Kirk and his wife, Cheryl, of Lake Mary, Fla. Stepfather of Todd Miller and his wife, Rose, of Pitts­field, N.H., and Tammie Martin and her husband, Tom, of Guilford. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., the son of Sidney and Hjorois (Olsen) John­son, he received his undergraudate from Dowling Col­lege, and then his M.A. in Education from Keene State College. He served in the Navy from 1959 to 1962, and was a career veteran of the nuclear power in­dustry, He began his career at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York. His worked at several nuclear power facilities, including Vermont Yankee in Vernon, before finishing his ca­reer with the U.S, Nuclear Regu­latory Commission. He had a lifelong dedication to education and taught math at Brat­tleboro Union High School for a year. He was involved in teaching at all levels in the nuclear indus­try. He also was a devoted teacher of religion and was a current mem­ber of the Vernon Union Church. Memorial information: A graveside service with full military was held Nov. 8 at Beaver Meadow Cemetery in Leyden, Mass. Donations to the Vernon Union Church, 2631 Fort Bridgman Rd., Vernon, VT 05354.

• Raymond Thomas “Ray” Lapan, 57, formerly of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 4 at Fletcher-Allen Health Care in Burlington. Son of Ruth (Noonan) and the late Richard E. Lapan. Brother of Patrick Lapan of Brattleboro, Richard M. Lapan of Wolcott, James Lapan of Seattle, Wash., Mary Worsman of Brattle­boro, and Bridget Devlin of Put­ney. Born in Brattleboro, the , he was raised and educated in Brat­tleboro, attending St. Michael's Parochial School, and later Brattle­boro Union High School. A resident of Burlington for the past 25 years, he had been employed as a custodian for a local janitori­al service. Pre­viously, he worked in the construction business. While grow­ing up in Brat­tleboro, he was very active with Boy Scout Troop 405, where he served as a patrol leader under former scoutmaster Gordon Nich­ols. He loved the outdoors, includ­ing hiking and camping. He enjoyed music, playing his guitar and writing poetry. He was active in Living Hope Christian Church in Williston, and also enjoyed attending Bible studies. He was a man of deep faith and was very proud of his Irish herit­age. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Nov. 12 at Atamaniuk Funeral Home in Brattleboro, with committal services and burial in the Lapan family plot in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery. Donations to the Vermont Alliance for the Mentally Ill, 162 South Main St., Waterbury, VT 05676.

• Arlene E. Rounds, 83, of Grafton. Died Nov. 5 at the Springfield Rehabilitation Center, where she had been a resident for eight months. Wife of the late John H. Rounds Sr. Mother of John H. Rounds Jr. Born in Rockingham, the daughter of the laste Bessie Goneau and Arthur H. Cenate, she was a homemaker most of her life. She enjoyed animals and pets, especially her horses. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Nov. 9 at Crown Point Country Club in Springfield. Donations to Springfield Rehabilitation Center, 105 Chester Road, Springfield, VT 05156. Arrangements were under the direction of Eternal Blessings in Guilford.

• Laurelle Shartrand, 65, of Adams, Mass., for­merly of Readsboro. Died Oct. 31 at South­western Vermont Medical Center in Bennington. Mother of Nancy Doyle and her husband, Jeff, of Brattleboro and Ann Hamilton Bar­tlett and her husband, Kel, of Boulder City, Nev. Stepmother of Alli­son Shartrand of Warwick, R.I., Michael Shartrand Jr. of Bennington, and the late David Phillips. Sister of Dennis Oakes of Whitingham, Mark Colford of Jacksonville, Phyllis DeBlois of Putney, and Florence Cristofolini of Pownal. Born in North Adams, Mass., the daughter of Clifford and Barbara (Scott) Oakes, she received her early education in Readsboro schools and was a graduate of Whitingham High School. She worked as a LNA for many years. She was an early member of the Wilmington Bowling Lea­gues and was a former member of the Readsboro Firefighters Womens Auxilary. She enjoyed going to tag sales, was an avid reader, and loved watching movies, baking, and spending with her family, especially her grand­children. Memorial information: Funeral services were held Nov. 5 at Readsboro Baptist Church. Interment was pri­vate. Donations to the Guy Hawkins Foun­dation, in care of Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wil­mington, VT 05363.

• Charles J. Taylor Jr., 74, of Putney. Died Nov. 5 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Husband of Lorraine (Beam) Taylor for 53 years. Father of Nathan Taylor of War­wick, Mass., Charles Taylor III of Springfield, Mo., Janette Taylor of Winchester, N.H., and the late Tammy Taylor. Brother of Edward Taylor of Putney, Rodney Lewis of Springfield, Vt., Tony Dube of Florida, Carol Lawley of South Newfane, Shirley Water­man of Dummerston, and Mary States of Peoria, Ill. Born in Brattle­boro, the son of the late Charles and Viola (Martin) Taylor, he worked as a truck driver for Basketville and Putney Paper. He also worked for local construc­tion companies. He was an avid NASCAR fan. Memorial information: A graveside service was held Nov. 11 at the Westminster New Cem­etery. Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls was in charge of arrangements.

• Arthur C. Willey, 98, of South Londonderry. Died Oct. 19 at Meridian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Shrewsbury, N.J., after a short illness. He had recently moved to New Jersey to be closer to his son's family. Husband of the late Marion Wheeler Willey for 44 years. Father of Harmon Willey and his wife, Nina, of Shrewsbury, N.J., and the late Rhoda Cummings. Born in Roxbury, the son of the late Fred and Gladys Willey, he graduated from Northfield (Vt.) High School. He married in 1941, and lived in South Londonderry for the last 59 years. He was the farm manager for the late state Sen. Edward Janeway's Middletown Farm, from 1954 until the early 1980s. In retirement, he was a caretaker of the Middletown Farm for the current owners, Barry and Wendy Rowland.He was a member of the Londonderry Grange #508, serving as the local chapter's Master for a number of years. He received the Silver Star Builders of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry from the National Grange, in recognition of 25 years of service in 1980. For many years he was a friend and grandfather figure to Jon and Kate Wright, and their daughters Annie, Mollie, and Leah. He was a friend and mentor to everyone who knew him. Two of his passions in retirement were playing cribbage and woodwork crafting. Memorial information: Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Londonderry. A memorial service may be scheduled at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the Londonderry Rescue Squad, P.O Box 911, Londonderry, VT 05148.