WESTMINSTER Russell E. Blodgett, 92, of Westminster, passed away Dec. 14, 2013. He was born to the late George and Elsie(Phelps) Blodgett on May 30, 1921, in Charlestown, N.H
Russell attended school through the 8th grade until the Great Depression when supporting their family of ten was the priority and he entered the work force. He enlisted in the Vermont National Guard and served in the Army, 172nd Infantry Combat Team, 43rd division. Russell was aboard the SS Coolidge when she left port in San Francisco for New Caledonia where his mission was to provide bomber support for forces at Guadalcanal. The ship was sunk by mines in Espiritu Santo in October of 1942. He married Florence Forrett of Brattleboro on June 17, 1947. Together, Russell and Florence had three children and through the years they took in 88 foster children. Some were short stays, some longer that became part of the family. Russell worked at Jones & Lamson Machine in Springfield, retiring in 1983 after 28 years. He also worked for Keil Lock Co., Tousaint Painters, and the Army Corp of Engineers, where he helped build the Springfield Reservoir in Springfield. Russell would spend his vacations cooking for the kids of 4H Camp Waubanog in West Brattleboro. He was a member of the American Legion, was an avid cribbage player, playing in many tournaments and North American Family Campers Association. He and Florence traveled all over the United States and Canada with the group. Russell was a member of the Maplewood Auxiliary Association. He was a volunteer for over 30 years. Some of that volunteering was holding luncheons and picnics in his home. Once a year, a group of up to 65 residents would gather for a barbecue and say they had the best hamburgers ever. During the Christmas season, residents of Maplewood took bus rides to see the lights, stopping by his home for hot chocolate. He resided in Bellows Falls, owning and residing in a four apartment house for over 30 years. For the past seven years he lived in Westminster. He was very social and, after retirement, he would visit someone every day. Attending family reunions and gatherings was something he enjoyed.
Russell is survived by daughter, Arlene Boehmler, and husband, Larry, of Springfield; daughter, Lyanne Woodward, and husband, Thomas, of Westminster,; son, James Blodgett of Dummerston; grandchildren, Trent Boehmler of Marlborough, N.H., Chantel DeForge of Randolph, Vt., and Elise Kraus of Stoddard, N.H.; foster children, Jeff Burke of Athol, Mass., and Aimee Burnham of Meridianville, Ala., and four great-grandchildren Dylan and Haley Moreau, Justin and Corwin Deforge, and a sister Blanche Handley. He was deceased by his wife, Florence, in 2008; by his siblings, Harold, Esther, Aleda, George, Carol and Marion, and by grandsons, Michael Sawyer and Chris Woodward.
FUNERAL NOTICE: Services will be held in the Spring at the Veterans Cemetery in Randolph Center, Vt., where he will be laid to rest next to his brother.
Published in Brattleboro Reformer on Dec. 18, 2013
Russell attended school through the 8th grade until the Great Depression when supporting their family of ten was the priority and he entered the work force. He enlisted in the Vermont National Guard and served in the Army, 172nd Infantry Combat Team, 43rd division. Russell was aboard the SS Coolidge when she left port in San Francisco for New Caledonia where his mission was to provide bomber support for forces at Guadalcanal. The ship was sunk by mines in Espiritu Santo in October of 1942. He married Florence Forrett of Brattleboro on June 17, 1947. Together, Russell and Florence had three children and through the years they took in 88 foster children. Some were short stays, some longer that became part of the family. Russell worked at Jones & Lamson Machine in Springfield, retiring in 1983 after 28 years. He also worked for Keil Lock Co., Tousaint Painters, and the Army Corp of Engineers, where he helped build the Springfield Reservoir in Springfield. Russell would spend his vacations cooking for the kids of 4H Camp Waubanog in West Brattleboro. He was a member of the American Legion, was an avid cribbage player, playing in many tournaments and North American Family Campers Association. He and Florence traveled all over the United States and Canada with the group. Russell was a member of the Maplewood Auxiliary Association. He was a volunteer for over 30 years. Some of that volunteering was holding luncheons and picnics in his home. Once a year, a group of up to 65 residents would gather for a barbecue and say they had the best hamburgers ever. During the Christmas season, residents of Maplewood took bus rides to see the lights, stopping by his home for hot chocolate. He resided in Bellows Falls, owning and residing in a four apartment house for over 30 years. For the past seven years he lived in Westminster. He was very social and, after retirement, he would visit someone every day. Attending family reunions and gatherings was something he enjoyed.
Russell is survived by daughter, Arlene Boehmler, and husband, Larry, of Springfield; daughter, Lyanne Woodward, and husband, Thomas, of Westminster,; son, James Blodgett of Dummerston; grandchildren, Trent Boehmler of Marlborough, N.H., Chantel DeForge of Randolph, Vt., and Elise Kraus of Stoddard, N.H.; foster children, Jeff Burke of Athol, Mass., and Aimee Burnham of Meridianville, Ala., and four great-grandchildren Dylan and Haley Moreau, Justin and Corwin Deforge, and a sister Blanche Handley. He was deceased by his wife, Florence, in 2008; by his siblings, Harold, Esther, Aleda, George, Carol and Marion, and by grandsons, Michael Sawyer and Chris Woodward.
FUNERAL NOTICE: Services will be held in the Spring at the Veterans Cemetery in Randolph Center, Vt., where he will be laid to rest next to his brother.
Published in Brattleboro Reformer on Dec. 18, 2013
WESTMINSTER Russell E. Blodgett, 92, of Westminster, passed away Dec. 14, 2013. He was born to the late George and Elsie(Phelps) Blodgett on May 30, 1921, in Charlestown, N.H
Russell attended school through the 8th grade until the Great Depression when supporting their family of ten was the priority and he entered the work force. He enlisted in the Vermont National Guard and served in the Army, 172nd Infantry Combat Team, 43rd division. Russell was aboard the SS Coolidge when she left port in San Francisco for New Caledonia where his mission was to provide bomber support for forces at Guadalcanal. The ship was sunk by mines in Espiritu Santo in October of 1942. He married Florence Forrett of Brattleboro on June 17, 1947. Together, Russell and Florence had three children and through the years they took in 88 foster children. Some were short stays, some longer that became part of the family. Russell worked at Jones & Lamson Machine in Springfield, retiring in 1983 after 28 years. He also worked for Keil Lock Co., Tousaint Painters, and the Army Corp of Engineers, where he helped build the Springfield Reservoir in Springfield. Russell would spend his vacations cooking for the kids of 4H Camp Waubanog in West Brattleboro. He was a member of the American Legion, was an avid cribbage player, playing in many tournaments and North American Family Campers Association. He and Florence traveled all over the United States and Canada with the group. Russell was a member of the Maplewood Auxiliary Association. He was a volunteer for over 30 years. Some of that volunteering was holding luncheons and picnics in his home. Once a year, a group of up to 65 residents would gather for a barbecue and say they had the best hamburgers ever. During the Christmas season, residents of Maplewood took bus rides to see the lights, stopping by his home for hot chocolate. He resided in Bellows Falls, owning and residing in a four apartment house for over 30 years. For the past seven years he lived in Westminster. He was very social and, after retirement, he would visit someone every day. Attending family reunions and gatherings was something he enjoyed.
Russell is survived by daughter, Arlene Boehmler, and husband, Larry, of Springfield; daughter, Lyanne Woodward, and husband, Thomas, of Westminster,; son, James Blodgett of Dummerston; grandchildren, Trent Boehmler of Marlborough, N.H., Chantel DeForge of Randolph, Vt., and Elise Kraus of Stoddard, N.H.; foster children, Jeff Burke of Athol, Mass., and Aimee Burnham of Meridianville, Ala., and four great-grandchildren Dylan and Haley Moreau, Justin and Corwin Deforge, and a sister Blanche Handley. He was deceased by his wife, Florence, in 2008; by his siblings, Harold, Esther, Aleda, George, Carol and Marion, and by grandsons, Michael Sawyer and Chris Woodward.
FUNERAL NOTICE: Services will be held in the Spring at the Veterans Cemetery in Randolph Center, Vt., where he will be laid to rest next to his brother.
Published in Brattleboro Reformer on Dec. 18, 2013
Russell attended school through the 8th grade until the Great Depression when supporting their family of ten was the priority and he entered the work force. He enlisted in the Vermont National Guard and served in the Army, 172nd Infantry Combat Team, 43rd division. Russell was aboard the SS Coolidge when she left port in San Francisco for New Caledonia where his mission was to provide bomber support for forces at Guadalcanal. The ship was sunk by mines in Espiritu Santo in October of 1942. He married Florence Forrett of Brattleboro on June 17, 1947. Together, Russell and Florence had three children and through the years they took in 88 foster children. Some were short stays, some longer that became part of the family. Russell worked at Jones & Lamson Machine in Springfield, retiring in 1983 after 28 years. He also worked for Keil Lock Co., Tousaint Painters, and the Army Corp of Engineers, where he helped build the Springfield Reservoir in Springfield. Russell would spend his vacations cooking for the kids of 4H Camp Waubanog in West Brattleboro. He was a member of the American Legion, was an avid cribbage player, playing in many tournaments and North American Family Campers Association. He and Florence traveled all over the United States and Canada with the group. Russell was a member of the Maplewood Auxiliary Association. He was a volunteer for over 30 years. Some of that volunteering was holding luncheons and picnics in his home. Once a year, a group of up to 65 residents would gather for a barbecue and say they had the best hamburgers ever. During the Christmas season, residents of Maplewood took bus rides to see the lights, stopping by his home for hot chocolate. He resided in Bellows Falls, owning and residing in a four apartment house for over 30 years. For the past seven years he lived in Westminster. He was very social and, after retirement, he would visit someone every day. Attending family reunions and gatherings was something he enjoyed.
Russell is survived by daughter, Arlene Boehmler, and husband, Larry, of Springfield; daughter, Lyanne Woodward, and husband, Thomas, of Westminster,; son, James Blodgett of Dummerston; grandchildren, Trent Boehmler of Marlborough, N.H., Chantel DeForge of Randolph, Vt., and Elise Kraus of Stoddard, N.H.; foster children, Jeff Burke of Athol, Mass., and Aimee Burnham of Meridianville, Ala., and four great-grandchildren Dylan and Haley Moreau, Justin and Corwin Deforge, and a sister Blanche Handley. He was deceased by his wife, Florence, in 2008; by his siblings, Harold, Esther, Aleda, George, Carol and Marion, and by grandsons, Michael Sawyer and Chris Woodward.
FUNERAL NOTICE: Services will be held in the Spring at the Veterans Cemetery in Randolph Center, Vt., where he will be laid to rest next to his brother.
Published in Brattleboro Reformer on Dec. 18, 2013
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