Richard D. Fernandes

White River Jct.

Richard D. Fernandes, 85, died early Saturday morning October 24^th at the Villages in White River Jct., Vermont. He was born on November 17, 1934 to Arthur and Grace (Isenor) Fernandes.

Richard grew up in Taunton, Massachusetts and served in the United States Army from 1956 to 1957. Following his mother’s death in 1957, Richard moved to Vermont and was married to Millicent “Sally” Whitney in 1958.

Richard was a master plumber working for many plumbing businesses in the Upper Valley; Rupert Leonard Plumbing, Harold Fisher Plumbing, Arnold Powell plumbing, Dickinson and Son and Rice Plumbing in Tucson, Arizona.

Richard found great enjoyment in playing the guitar and was asked by a number of bands over the years to join them. Other activities that he loved were hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and coaching kids baseball.

Richard is survived by his children; Lori Fernandes, Daniel Fernandes and his wife Bonnie Parker-Fernandes, and Teri Fernandes all of Quechee, VT, his grandchildren; Jamie Lee  Parker-Fernandes of Woodstock, VT, Daniel Fernandes of Hartland, VT,  Michael Fernandes of Vista, CA, Rachael Facteau of  Whitehall, NY, John Bielecki of Portland, ME, Jason Bielecki of Towaco, NJ, and Jake Bielecki of Burlington, VT, as well as several nieces and nephews and cousins. He is predeceased by his parents and his wife Millicent “Sally” (Whitney) Fernandes.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, services for Richard will be held privately by his family. He will be laid to rest in the Taftsville Cemetery next to his wife Sally.

Those wishing may make memorial donations to the Brain Injury Association of Vermont PO Box 482 Waterbury, VT 05676

The Cabot Funeral Home in Woodstock is assisting the family. An on-line guest book can be found at cabotfh.com.

Martha W. Stanwood

Martha W. Stanwood, 88, died Thursday, October 22, 2020 at the Jack Byrne Center in Lebanon, NH.

Martha was born October 23, 1931 a daughter of William and Ester (Dutton) Wolf. She graduated from the Day Croft School in Stamford, CT class of 1950. She obtained her Associates Degree from the Hartford College for Women in West Hartford, CT. She worked as an Administrative Trainer with the Bernard Haldane Associates for several years. She was a member of the Avon Congregational Church in Avon, CT and the League of Women Voters. Martha moved to Woodstock, VT in 2014.

Martha enjoyed reading, cooking, but most of all spending time with family. She also enjoyed collecting book plates.

She is predeceased by her daughter Jennifer MacDonald.

Martha is survived by two sons Timothy D. Stanwood of Pomfret, VT and Matthew C. Stanwood of Hingham, MA; twelve grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

There will be a memorial service held at a later date.  Condolences may be made to her family at an online guest book at www.knightfuneralhomes.com  The Knight Funeral Home in White River Junction, VT has been entrusted with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative Care and Hospice at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center one Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756

James Harvey Watson,100, LT. COL. USAF Ret.

James Harvey Watson, 100, of Woodstock and Stuart, Florida, passed away peacefully on October 13, 2020 after a full and eventful life. Born December 18, 1919 in Meriden, NH, he was the son of Matthew Harvey and Addie Mae (Rogers) Watson. He graduated from Woodstock High School in 1938, where he excelled at baseball and at ski racing (slalom, cross country and ski jumping). He raced in the US Nationals at Sun Valley, Idaho in 1939 where he was also the skiing stunt double for Milton Berle in the first ski movie “Sun Valley Serenade”.

After graduating from the Pan American Flight School, Harvey flew Sikorsky Twin Engine float planes to Havana and the Bahamas prior to WW ll. He joined the US Army Air Corps and flew 65 combat missions in North Africa and Europe. He remained in the USAF Reserves serving as a flight instructor in the Air National Guard and an officer in the Strategic Air Command, retiring as a highly decorated Lieutenant Colonel in 1968. He returned to the family farm in Taftsville after the war before becoming Postmaster and operating a general store and Vermont products mail order business, until retiring in 1983.

Harvey was a dedicated family man. He was predeceased by his first wife of 38 years, Pearl G. (Taylor) Watson in 1981. He married Lois E. (Behrman) Watson on February 8, 1984 and they enjoyed a wonderful life in Vermont and Florida and traveled the world together. He was predeceased by a daughter Margaret Mae Wilcox in 1999 and his sisters Greta Hewlett and Emma Vail. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, a daughter Susan E. Moore (James) of Concord, MA and two sons, James H. Watson Jr. (Joan) of Rutland, VT and Richard M. Watson of Simsbury, CT. He was blessed with 11 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

Active in the community, Harvey served on the Woodstock School Board, the Planning Commission and as a member of the Woodstock (Rockefeller) Foundation for many years. He was a Paul Harris Fellow in the Woodstock Rotary, a member of the American Legion and the oldest living member of the Woodstock Masonic Lodge. His many interests included golf, hunting, fishing, dancing and he mowed his own lawn to within six weeks of passing.

An avid golfer, Harvey won the Vermont Senior Amateur and competed in the USGA National Senior Amateur. Harvey and Lois played on the People to People American International Golf Team sponsored by the US State Department with delegations to South Africa, Europe and Asia.

Harvey was Lois’s co-pilot as she flew them throughout North America and the Caribbean. Together they founded the Eig Watson School of Aviation located at the Homestead campus of Miami Dade College in Florida, which now offers 12 academic degrees in the aviation industry. Their initial interest was in providing flying time — pilot hours for aspiring commercial pilots.

Due to COVID-19 there will be no calling hours. A private family burial will be held at the Taftsville Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Thompson Senior Center, 99 Senior Lane Woodstock, VT 05091 or to an organization of your choosing.

An on line guest book can be found at cabotfh.com

Richmond T. Maxham

Bridgewater Corners –

Richmond T. Maxham, 80, passed away Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at his home in Bridgewater Corners surrounded by his family.

Richmond was born in Weathersfield, VT January 16^th, 1940 to Richard and Eva (Martin) Maxham. He married Linda Jillson on August 20, 1960. He started life as a dairy farmer, but later became skilled at several other trades. He worked drilling wells for Lloyd Moyer, and later at Larken Construction. Most notably, Richmond worked for Cone Blanchard as a machinist for 15 years. After Cone Blanchard closed he worked for General Electric for 12 years, until he had to retire due to health restrictions.

Richmond enjoyed country music, especially Hank Williams. He was a true Vermonter and fought to retain his independence until the very end.

Richmond leaves behind his wife of 60 years, Linda, his sons: Brian (Susan George) of Bridgewater Corners, Michael (Michelle Pratson) and Matthew (Jennifer) of Woodstock, and his daughter, Lenore Harris (David) of Great Falls, Montana; thirteen grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. He also leaves his siblings, Richard Jr. of Tunbridge, VT, Steve of Putney, VT; his sisters, Patricia Barbour of Reading, VT and Sheila Martel of Charlestown, NH. He was predeceased by his parents, and one brother, Robert.

A graveside service will be held at the convenience of the family in the Prosper Cemetery in Woodstock. Arrangements have been entrusted with Knight Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed in an online guestbook found at www.knightfuneralhomes.com

Peter Fox Smith

North Pomfret

Peter Fox Smith, 85, of North Pomfret, Vt. died at home in hospice care on Monday, October 5th, 2020.Peter was born in Cleveland, Ohio on June 27th, 1935 to Ralston Fox Smith Jr. and Alice Johnson Smith.

He attended University School, Shaker Heights, Ohio, Denison University (B.A), and Harvard University (M.A.T., Ph.D.)

A true renaissance man, his employment was varied due to his many interests and talents. He was Director of the Red Raider Boys Overnight Camp in Novelty, Ohio, part of an outdoor education and horsemanship camp founded by his father; Professor of Humanities/ Dean of Students, Emerson College; teaching fellow in Classics, Instructor, Assistant Director of General Education at Harvard University; Professor of Philosophy, Royalton College; Professor of Humanities/ Dean of Students, Canaan College; Director of the Vermont Council on the Arts;  Women’s Cross country running/Track and Field Coach/ Professor of Opera, Dartmouth College; Producer of a weekly Saturday afternoon radio program on VPR featuring opera and music for forty years with his technician and friend Sam Sanders, never missing a Saturday broadcast. He also enjoyed lecturing on his passion for opera to students of the NWPL learning lab, and led music lovers on tours to the great opera houses of Europe. He was also an author/poet writing the definitive book on opera, “A Passion for Opera”, as well as publishing several books of his poems.

His many pleasures were canoeing, sailing on his Swedish Vindo, Vara, running, biking, playing Polo, wilderness tripping, sports, ( especially the Red Sox, the New England Patriots and his beloved The Ohio State Buckeyes football team), foreign languages/ foreign travels, publishing (books, articles, interviews), the arts (especially poetry) reading, writing, music (listening and performing).

Peter was devoted to his family, and was lovingly known simply as “Big Daddy”. In the eighth grade he fell in love with Joanne Tobitt, his wife of 63 years who survives him. He leaves behind his son Peter Fox Smith ll, and his wife Grace of New Orleans, Louisiana; his daughter Alice Smith and husband William Pepper Gilbert of Worton, Maryland;  his sister Claire McKnight (Bruce) of Livingston, Montana, brother Douglas (Christine) of Bozeman, Montana; grandchildren, Lauren Pierce (Jack), Andrew Smith, William Gilbert, Peter Gilbert and great grandson, Christopher Pierce; sister-in-law Ann Smith of Kensington, N. H. and various nieces and nephews. He was pre deceased by his brother, Stephen, in 2019.

Peter requested no funeral service and that his ashes be scattered to the winds at his cherished Vermont home. A celebration of Peter’s life is pending until a time when friends and family can gather together in North Pomfret.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to cancer research to help eradicate this terrible disease.

Peter’s family wishes to thank all the wonderful nurses and nurses’ aides of the Jack Byrne Palliative Care Center and Bayada Hospice who gave him such compassionate care at the end of his life.

The Cabot Funeral Home of Woodstock, Vermont handled the funeral arrangements. An on line guest book can be found at cabotfh.com

Joyce S. Richardson

Bethel, VT

Joyce S. Richardson, 89, of Bethel, died on Sunday morning, October 4, 2020, surrounded by family.  After a brave and courageous fight, she joined her husband, Lee; mother, Eva; and father, Reginald “Pick” Scoville in eternal rest.

She was born on May 28, 1931 which was always a particularly special day for her and as the seasons of her beloved State of Vermont always a special time of year.  One of her more special memories was her 80^th birthday party at the Bethel Town Hall, where she graduated as Salutatorian of her class in 1949.  One of her most satisfying events to organize was the class’s yearly reunion, something she never forgot.

After graduation she continued to work for Clifford of Vermont, Inc. until being offered early retirement at the age of 53, it took the “swivel” of her chair to accept this offer and she never looked back.

She married Lee A. Richardson on June 24, 1950.  He was the love of her life.  For over 75 years, Joyce and her husband Lee operated a business on Bethel’s downtown Main Street, most notably Richardson’s Country Store from 1961 until its closing in 2002.  They raised five children, all of them continue to live within 20 miles of her lifelong home of Bethel.  Joyce was very proud of Bethel and has shared many memories and history of her hometown with her family.

Joyce is survived by her children, Candace Hall & husband Frank of Northfield Falls, Lee A. Richardson, Jr. (wife Nancy dec. 2019) of Barnard, Timothy Richardson & wife Marilyn of Barnard, Eric Richardson & wife Shelie of Bethel, and Tamsen Slack & husband  Jeffrey of Bethel.  Her children blessed her with ten grandchildren, and they have blessed her with twelve great-grandchildren.  She loved nothing more than having everyone together for a celebration or holiday.  Joyce loved everyone in her family and was proud of who they were and what they were doing in their own lives’.

In early years, Joyce loved bingo, bowling, snow machining, traveling, eating out, trips to Maine and Florida, writing cards & letters, and talking on the telephone.  The Shrine and Eastern Star were a big part of her and Lee’s life and they were both very active in both organizations. A remarkable experience for Joyce as a Boston sports fan, was in 2004 when the Boston Red Sox won the World Series.  This ended the team’s 86 year “Curse of the Bambino”. Many of her generation never had the experience to see “the Sox Win It All” and then go on to witness it happen three more times!

Private graveside service was held on October 9^th at Old Christ Church Cemetery in Bethel.  The Family is planning a celebration of life in May of 2021.  Contributions in her memory may be made to Bayada Hospice, PO Box 1590 – Norwich, VT 05055 or Gifford Medical Center, 44 South Main Street – Randolph, VT 05060.  Online condolences may be made at www.dayfunerals.com.  Arrangements are by the Day Funeral Home in Randolph.