|
Ray Charles Winchester Brattleboro -- Ray Charles Winchester, 91, of Ames Hill Road, a lifelong resident of town, died early Thursday morning, Jan. 10, 2008, at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, following an extended illness. Mr. Winchester was born at home on Ames Hill Road on April 24, 1916, the son of Charles and Bertha (Boyd) Winchester. He was raised and educated in West Brattleboro and was a graduate of Brattleboro High School, Class of 1934. Following high school, he worked for the Eastern States Farmers Exchange for several years and then joined his father in operating the family farm on Ames Hill Road. Over the years, his farm related activities included managing a saw mill, a farm store and an egg route. Ever interested in machinery, introduced the first round hay baler in the area. He was active with the farm on a daily basis up until last year. Mr. Winchester was a member of the Windham County Farm Bureau and attended the Green Mountain Chapel of the Christian & Missionary Alliance on Western Avenue. Of his leisure time activities, he enjoyed tractors, Harley-Davidson motorcycles and animals, especially dogs. He could recite many poems learned in childhood and was well known for his many quaint sayings. On Dec. 14, 1938, he was married to Arleen George. They met in the emergency room of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, where he was admitted following a motorcycle accident and she was the nurse on duty. Besides his faithful and loving wife of 69 years, he leaves two sons, Rodney Winchester and wife Doreen of Brattleboro and Ralph Winchester and fiancée Norma Brewer of Guilford; two daughters, Janice Nadeau and husband Leonard of Stillwater, Minn., and Iva Wood and husband Joseph of Winchester, N.H; and 17 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 8 adopted great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. In addition, he is also survived by one sister, Evelyn Whipple of West Brattleboro, and several nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, Robert Winchester and Herbert Winchester. Funeral Services will be conducted Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Green Mountain Chapel of the Christian & Missionary Alliance on Western Avenue with Pastor Bill Steele, officiating. Burial will follow in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery on Orchard Street. Friends are invited to call at the ATAMANIUK FUNERAL HOME on Terrace Street on Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. Contributions in Mr. Winchester's name may be made to, Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT. 05302. Back HOME |
Brattleboro, Vt -- Armand Joseph Nadeau Sr., 92, of Melrose Street, died Thursday night, Jan. 10, 2008, at the home of his son, Gary Nadeau on Bonnyvale Road in Guilford, following a lengthy illness. Mr. Nadeau was born in Graylock, Mass., on April 17, 1915, the son of Jacob and Delphine (Renaud) Nadeau. He was raised and educated in Brattleboro and had attended Saint Michael's Parochial School. In his younger years, Mr. Nadeau did some professional boxing and wrestling, competing in the tri-state area. His work career was long and varied. He began working at Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates on Cotton Mill Hill at age 14, cleaning looms, and later, at age 16 became a weaver. He had been employed for A. G. Spaulding Brothers, Inc., finishing tennis rackets. During World War II, he worked at Millers Falls Tool Company in Greenfield, Mass., in the airplane parts manufacturing division. He later worked at United Rubber Company in Chicopee Falls, Mass. During the postwar years, he returned to Berkshire Fine Spinning, and also worked for Holden & Martin Box Manufacturers in Brattleboro. At age 39, he went to work at Crosby Milling Company hauling 100 lb. bags of grain, working at Crosby's for 12 years. His last position was with the Brattleboro School Department until his retirement 20 years after. He often worked “second jobs” along the way. He delivered milk for Sinclair and Benoit Dairies, delivered ice, and worked at Haus (Buick) Motor Company for eight years. In the 1930s, he served in the Vermont National Guard. Mr. Nadeau was a longtime member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Brattleboro Lodge No. 1499 and held membership in the A.A.R.P., Windham County Chapter. He had been a member of the former Improved Order of Red Men, Pocahontas Council No. 4 in Brattleboro. Mr. Nadeau was an avid fisherman and enjoyed deer hunting. With his wife Yvonne, he loved to dance, starting in the Big Band era and continuing throughout their lives. They were still dancing well into their 80s. He spent many happy hours in his workshop making footstools and small furniture items and shelves. Mr. Nadeau was never wealthy in material things, but he amassed an enormous fortune of family respect, family integrity, family love, invaluable legacies to his heirs. On May 2, 1936, in Brattleboro, he was married to Yvonne M. Bover, who survives. Besides his wife of 71 years, he leaves, five sons, Armand Nadeau Jr. and wife Sue of Hinsdale, N.H., Rev. Leonard Nadeau and wife Janice of Stillwater, Minn., Gary Nadeau and wife Rebecca of Guilford, Paul Nadeau and wife Evelyn of Swanzey, N.H., and David Nadeau and partner Sharon Killackei of Brattleboro; two daughters, Betty Louise Whipple and husband Donald of Orange, Mass., and Sylvia Heath and husband Clifford of Hinsdale. Additionally, he leaves 26 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. He was predeceased by one sister, Rose Mikuski, and five brothers, Arsene, Armidos, Zeke, Peter and Ernest Nadeau. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 161 Western Ave. in Brattleboro with his son, the Rev. Leonard Nadeau officiating. A reception will follow the services to be held at the American Legion at 32 Linden St. Friends are invited to call at the ATAMANIUK FUNERAL HOME on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. Contributions in Mr. Nadeau's memory may be made to Brattleboro Area Hospice, 191 Canal St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, or to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Back HOME |