Obituaries
• Deryl Jane Anderson, 81, of Brattleboro. Died Oct. 14, 2021 at Pine Heights nursing home, where she had been a resident for the past eight years. Deryl was born in Dummerston on July 25, 1940, the daughter of Charles and Edith (Grover) Anderson. She attended schools in both Dummerston and Brattleboro and was a graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1957. She had been employed as a nurse's aide working at Thompson House nursing home and, later, at Holton Home on Western Avenue. In her last position, she worked as a sales associate at the Hanes outlet store at the Outlet Center in Brattleboro. Deryl retired early as the result of a serious stroke she suffered while at work. She will be remembered for her pleasant personality and strong work ethic. She enjoyed working in her flower gardens, loved music, and was an avid reader. Survivors include one son, Eric Anderson and his companion Christine McCullough, both of Brattleboro, and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She was predeceased by a sister, Dorothy Dow, and six brothers, Robert, Richard, Donald, Lawrence, Clarence, and Byran Anderson; three half-sisters, Lorraine Whitten, Helen Tatro, and Esther Merrifield; and a half-brother, Paul Anderson. Memorial information: In keeping with her final wishes, there are no services scheduled. Donations to the Pine Heights Nursing Home Activities Fund, 187 Oak Grove Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301. To send messages of e-condolence to her family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• John Noller “Jack” Baldwin, Jr., 82, of Spofford, N.H. Died unexpectedly October 8, 2021 in the emergency department at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, N.H. after being stricken at home. Jack was born in Englewood, New Jersey on March 20, 1939, the son of John Noller and Dorothy Violet (Johnson) Baldwin. At the age of 1, his parents purchased a dairy farm in North Charlestown, N.H., where he was raised and educated. He attended public schools in North Charlestown and graduating from the former Charlestown High School, Class of 1957. He went on to attend the University of New Hampshire and, a short time later in 1961, enlisted in the Army where he was stationed in Laos. Upon his honorable discharge from active service in 1963, he returned home and found employment working for the late Gus Westerlund, who at the time owned and operated Washburn Vault Co. in Brattleboro. Shortly afterwards in 1965, Jack and his father purchased the vault company. They served funeral directors in the greater Tri-State area. At the time of his death, Jack was still active with the business, which is now located in Hinsdale, N.H. Under his ownership, the company greatly expanded to include an array of precast concrete products. Many years ago, Jack earned his pilot's license and own and operated his own plane, a Beech Sierra single engine craft. He especially enjoyed flying and, through the years, flew to his winter home in Florida. Jack loved to travel, was an avid fisherman and a great storyteller. He was always willing to assist anyone in need. Jack was first married to Julia Ann Paligo, who is deceased. He later married Linda (Kunelius) Reil in 1979. Besides his faithful wife of 42 years, he leaves two stepsons, Nathan “Nate” Reil of Guilford and Benjamin Reil of Dillion, Colo.; a stepdaughter, Kara Reil of Sydney, Australia; three grandchildren, one great-grandson, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by one son, John Noller Baldwin III; a brother, Scott Wilson Baldwin; and a sister, Lois Marie Kenan. Memorial information: In keeping with Jack's final wishes, there are no formal funeral services scheduled. He will be buried in the Baldwin family lot in Hope Hill Cemetery in North Charlestown. A celebration of his life will take place at a future date. Donations to the Boys & Girls Club of Brattleboro, 17 Flat St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, or to a charity of one's choice. To share a memory or send condolences to the Baldwin family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Walter C. “Walt” Critchfield, 73, of Grafton. Died suddenly at his residence on Sept. 29, 2021. He was born Sept. 7, 1948 in Bellows Falls, the son of Charles and Marion Swain Critchfield. Walt attended schools in Walpole, N.H. He had worked for White Metal in North Walpole and, at the time of his death, had his own lawn care business in the Grafton area and was sexton of the Grafton Town Cemetery. Walt was very active at American Legion Post 67 in Chester, and was also a member of the Springfield and Ludlow VFW. Walt is survived by three sons, Walter Charles Jr. and his wife, Tasha, of North Carolina, Brent Madison and his wife, Jennifer, of Texas, and Steven Paul and his wife, Lorrie, of North Carolina; three brothers, James of Cambridgeport, Scott of Bellows Falls, and David of North Walpole; a sister, Linda Shepard of North Walpole; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many beloved friends. Memorial information: None provided.
• Robert George McCafferty, 83, of Dorset. Died Sept. 22, 2021 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Bob was an only child born on June 30, 1938 in Hershey, Pa. His mother, Georgiana, was an elementary school teacher, and his father, Robert, worked for Hershey Chocolate and was an avid outdoorsman, introducing Bob to fly fishing and Alpine skiing. The two of them often made the 8-hour drive to Vermont. Upon graduating from junior college, Bob moved to West Dover with his girlfriend Nancy. There they built The Dover Hof, a small ski lodge. In 1958, Bob and Nancy married each other in the local church. After joining the Canadian Ski Alliance, Bob helped Nancy run the lodge and taught skiing at Mount Snow. Among his many students was the actor Paul Newman. In the summer of 1961, his son Jon was born. After running the lodge for six years, they sold the business and built a new home at Haystack, a ski area in neighboring Wilmington. Through this experience, he became further involved in real estate and property development with Dover Hills and Kenyon Realty. In 1974, the family moved to Prinecton, N.J., where Bob continued in both commercial and residential real estate with Landmark Development and The Trust. In 1979 they moved to Montclair, N.J., where Bob joined the Garibaldi Group. In 1996, Bob and Nancy purchased a second home in Dorset, where they would weekend and vacation. In 2000, they moved to Dorset full time and began construction on their dream home. Living back in Southern Vermont full time enabled Bob to get involved with Merck Forest and the Southern Vermont Art Center. Not loving being “retired,” he also opened an office in Manchester for LandVest Real Estate. Bob also became involved in Southern Vermont Hospice as a result of his beloved wife Nancy's long battle with cancer. His semi-retirement was also filled with hiking, skiing, tennis, travel, and gardening while quietly maintaining his painting practice. On Feb. 28, 2021, Nancy lost her battle with cancer. After 63 years of marriage, his family finds comfort knowing Bob and Nancy are together again. Bob is survived by his son Jon, his grandson Willem, Jon's partner, Lisa Feiwel, and her children Rae and Leonardo as well as Willem's mother, Jackie Gross. Memorial information: A casual celebration of Bob's life will be held Saturday, Nov. 6, from 3 to 6 p.m., at the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester. Donations in Bob's memory may be made to Merck Forest or the Southern Vermont Arts Center, in care of Brewster-Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 885, Manchester Center, VT 05255.
• Peter Wadsworth Morris, 90, of Wilmington. Died Oct. 7, 2021 at the Vermont Veterans Home in Bennington. He was born Jan. 8, 1931 in New Haven, Conn., to Milton and Adeline (McAuley) Morris. After graduating from high school, he joined the Army in February 1951. He was assigned to the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Campbell where he received the Parachutist Badge. In November 1951, he was assigned to the 187th Regimental Combat Team in Japan and Korea until 1953, serving nine months on the front line in Korea. Returning to the states in August 1953, he finished his military career at Fort Jay, N.Y., where he met his future wife, Patricia Crawford. They were married in 1954, and Peter and Patricia moved to Springfield, Mass. He graduated from American International College, and his first job was as a salesman for a dairy in New Hampshire, which was the start of a career in sales and marketing. His next job was for Johnson & Johnson, traveling the Northeast selling milk filters. Next, he moved with his family to Chicago Heights, Ill., where he worked for a small plant owned by Win Pak Portion Packaging of Canada. He had a year to get the plant operating and profitable. He stayed with the company until his retirement in 1996. In the early 1970s, Peter learned to fly and got his instrument rating. He also enjoyed yearly trips to Colorado to play golf with his brother, Steve. He loved to travel, for work or pleasure, even going back to Korea to sell machines to make plastic cups. He also enjoyed doing genealogies and reading military books of World War II and Korea. Peter is survived by his wife of 67 years; sons Peter Jr. (Cheri) of Vermont, Clifford (Connie) of Maryland, and Matthew (Cheryl) of Texas; daughter Sarah Tash (Bryan) of South Carolina, and seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Sally Borghesani and Steve Morris (Laurie); two sisters in law, Mary Morris and Lilla Morris; and a special cousin, Burton Morris. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Tom Morris and Paul Morris. Memorial information: A celebration of life will be held in the spring of 2022. To send personal condolences, visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.
• W. Warren Peschl, 94, of Bellows Falls. Died peacefully Sept. 20, 2021, after several months of declining health, with his beloved wife of 68 years, Mary, and many of his family members by his side. Warren was born in Bronx, N.Y., on Aug. 28, 1927, the only child of William Peschl and Helen (Brennan) Peschl. In the summer of 1942, as a 15-year-old patriotic teenager during World War II, he came to Vermont to seek work on a farm. He was hired shortly after his arrival and continued to return to Vermont in the summer months to work as a farm hand until he was drafted. During those summers, he fell in love with Vermont and promised himself that he would live there someday. After the war, Warren moved back to the Bronx and attended school. In 1952, he met the love of his life, Mary Murphy, at the Irish Center in the Bronx. They married in 1953. Then, in the winter of 1971, he moved his entire family to a large house on Webb Terrace overlooking the Connecticut River Valley to make his dream come true. Warren is survived by his wife, Mary; their six children Maureen, Helen, Colleen, Matthew, Kathleen, and Frances; and 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Memorial information: A funeral mass was held at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls on Oct. 20.
Services
• A graveside memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 23, at 12:30 p.m., at Woodlawn Cemetery in Newfane for Marie Pratt Perry. Marie died peacefully at the home of her daughter Lisa and Garry Chapin's home on Sept 20, 2021 in Cuttingsville, Vt. Marie grew up in Newfane and loved coming back to her “hometown” whenever she could. Friends and family are welcome to attend the service. Coffee and light refreshments will be offered following the service at the NewBrook Firehouse on Route 30 in Newfane.