Obituary of Robert Fletcher, 1926-2017

My father's obituary, which will be sent to the Rutland (VT) Herald this week.

Robert Daniel Fletcher

 

            Robert Daniel Fletcher, known to most as Bob, died Friday, January 5, 2017, at Apple Rehab of Colchester, CT, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.  He was predeceased by his wife, Marian, in 2011, after 28 years of marriage.  He is survived by two daughters, Deborah K. Barry of Clarkston, MI, and Patricia H. MacLaughlin of Batesburg, SC; by five step-children, Francis Lerzo of Charlestown, NH, Timothy Lerzo of Colchester, CT, Pamela DiPizzol of Meriden, CT, Robert Lerzo f Kennesaw, GA, and Alison Nelson of Colchester, CT; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. 

            A native of Ludlow, VT, Robert was the son of Allen M. Fletcher, Jr and Zoa Townsend Fletcher.  He attended local schools, until he transferred to Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, MA for his final year of high school; he graduated from Cushing Academy in 1944.  He attended Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT, and Williams College in Williamstown, MA.  Robert enlisted in the US Army, and served during World War II and the Korean War.

            Robert was an industrial engineer for the Eagle Square plant of Stanley Tools in Shaftsbury, VT.  He worked at A. Brown Co., in North Bennington, VT.  After retiring, he worked as a driver for Southeast Vermont Community Action (SEVCA) until he moved to Colchester, CT in 1998.

            Robert became a Master Mason in the Black River-Lafayette Lodge, No. 85, Free and Accepted Masons in 1991..  He was Senior Steward of the Lodge from 1992-1996.  He served as Junior Deacon 1997-1998.  He became a member of Keystone Chapter, No. 5, Order of the Eastern Star in 1992.  He served that Chapter as Chaplain from 1993-1994, and as Worthy Patron 1995-1997.  He became a member of Mizpah Chapter, No. 40, Order of the Eastern Star in 2003.  Robert was a member of the Lions Club in Bennington, VT, and later in Ludlow, VT, for about 20 years, beginning about 1984, holding a variety of positions in each club.  He was a member of the Boy Scouts in the late 1960s and early 1970s.  He was a member of American Legion Post 36, in Ludlow, VT.

            Robert was an active member of the choir at North Bennington Congregational Church, UCC, in North Bennington, VT, from at least the early 1970s until 1985, and then at the United Church of Ludlow, in Ludlow, VT, and was active in both churches.

            The family will have a burial at Pleasant View Cemetery, Ludlow, Vermont, in the late spring; there will be no viewing hours or service at this time.  Memorial contributions may be made to C.A.R.E. (Comprehensive Assessment Recovery Effort), through the Masonic Grand Lodge of Vermont; donation should be sent to C.A.R.E., c/o Grand Lodge of Vermont, 49 East Road, Barre, VT 05641-5390.

 

 Editing to add a link to the obituary and guest boo:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/rutlandherald/obituary.aspx?n=robert-d-fletcher&pid=187897163

Author's Note

My siblings may make small additions or corrections before my sister sends it to the paper, but this is the current version. I added the final details this morning.

Please see the blog post, "Grieving in Slow Motion" for more.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

My condolences for your loss. I've not read many obituaries, but it's an interesting idea to share this on a writing website. I can't help but notice that I can't even remember this much detail about MY OWN LIFE! So I admire you for being this well-informed about your dad. Maybe this is the typical format for obituaries, but I found this to be chock full of facts, but not much sentiment. It almost makes me feel there might not have been much love here!?!? (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Debbie Barry]

Thanks, Margie. (((HUGS))) No, there was a lot of love. Typically, the obituary gets the facts, as densely packed as column-inches of newsprint allow, and the eulogy gets all the sentiment and real memories. I haven't quite worked myself up to writing the eulogy yet. There's a long versionof the obituary on here, too, which is a better read, but still just the facts.

The format I used is longer than the average, because my dad;s family is very prominent in his home town, where the paper will be read. Our ancestors founded the town, and my great grandfather was governor of the state at the beginning of the 20th Century. Our name is on public buildings, and the original farm house still stands. A certain style of obituary was necessary, under the circumstances.

Getting all those facts together took about six years of emails, phone calls, and reviewing old documents, so don't feel bad about not knowing all of your own facts. I'm planning to do as my grandmother did, and get all my stuff together while I'm still alive and lucid, so my kids won't have to struggle to prepare my obituary. Hopefully, I have three or four decades yet.

Thanks, my friend.

[barleygirl]

Your added information is very interesting & you've taught me a lot! Thanks for sharing so much of yourself & your family! (((HUGS)))

[Debbie Barry]

Thanks, Margi. (((HUGS))) Family is one of those things I'll gladly talk about for hours. I can get boring, but there are a lot of stories to share. I'm glad you found it interesting.

[TheRavensWoods]

Beautiful obituary. I’m so sorry for your loss.

[Debbie Barry]

Thank you. I appreciate your kind words.

[Coyote Poetry]

It is well written and you told of a man's life and deeds. I believe it is very good. You showed respect for Robert.
Coyote

[Debbie Barry]

Thank you, Coyote. He was the man who encouraged my writing, and stressed building my vocabulary. He taught me more than I can think of now. A eulogy will follow later.

[Coyote Poetry]

Hard to lose our mentors and teachers. You are welcome my friend.

[Samuel Dickens]

Such sad news. I'm very sorry, Debbie. May there be peace for him and strength for the rest of you.

[Debbie Barry]

Thank you, Samuel. I appreciate that very much.

[Karen Redburn]

My deepest condolences Debbie. Thinking of you and your family at this difficult time. (((HUGS)))

[Debbie Barry]

Thank you, Karen. (((HUGS))) back. I appreciate that very much.

[Karen Redburn]

Very welcome, my friend. Thinking of you (((HUGS)))