United States High School Yearbooks by County
Margaret Fletcher, 80, mother of New Milford woman
Margaret F. Fletcher, 80, of Vero Beach, Fla., died Oct. 31 at Indian River Estates Medical Center. She was the widow of Nathan Fletcher.
Mrs. Fletcher was born Feb. 15, 1920, in Camden, N.J., and moved to Vero Beach three years ago.
She is survived by a daughter, Nancy Pearson of New Milford; two grandchildren, Kimberlee Van Horn of Appleton, Wisc., and Courtney Pearson of Manhattan, N.Y.; two great-grandchildren, Pearson and Taylor Van Horn, both of Appleton.
The Lowther Cremation Service of Vero Beach was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to VNA Hospice of Indian River County, 1111 36th St., Vero Beach, FL 32960.
Felix Gantnier, 76, had worked locally as contractor
Felix Gantnier, 76, of Benedicta, Maine, died Nov. 21 in Bangor, Maine. He was the husband of Agnes (Durkin) Gantnier.
Mr. Gantnier was born Nov. 19, 1924, in Benedicta, son of the late Harold and Bertha (Sleeper) Gantnier. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War. He had worked as an excavating contractor in New Milford.
Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, Martin of Waterbury and Roger of Benedicta; two daughters, Renee Taylor of Southbury and Sharon McDonald of Wolcott; two brothers, Vernon of Newtown and Harold of Georgia; two sisters, Margaret Vinet of Pearl River, La. and Patricia Scisco of Lexington, Ky.; and seven grandchildren.
Gisela Metzler, 54, was a resident of Warren
Gisela Metzler, 54, of Windy Ridge Road, Warren, died Nov. 25 at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington. She was the wife of Armand Saiia.
Mrs. Metzler was born July 19, 1946, in Dusseldorf, Germany. She moved to the United States 16 years ago, and to Warren seven years ago.
She was a producer by trade and was concerned about the world ecology. She fed the homeless in New York and loved her cat.
The LaPorta Funeral Home of Torrington was in charge of arrangements.
Samuel Oviatt Jr., 87, had been NMHS custodian
Samuel Clayton Oviatt Jr., 87, died Nov. 19 at The Kent in Kent. He was the widower of Opal (Smith) Oviatt.
Mr. Oviatt was born June 10, 1913, in New Milford, son of the late Samuel C. and Bertha (Whittlesey) Oviatt. He attended New Milford schools.
He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving in the European theater and on campaigns in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. He received a Bronze Star.
Mr. Oviatt was a custodian at New Milford High School for many years.
He leaves several nieces and nephews.
The Lillis Funeral Home in New Milford is in charge of the arrangements.
Harry Batterson, 88, father of New Milford man
Harry Wilson Batterson, 88, a resident of Norwalk for over 50 years, died Nov. 29 in Norwalk Hospital. He was the husband of Hannah (Nystrom) Batterson.
Mr. Batterson was born in Georgetown May 9, 1912, the son of the late Lester and Jenny (Bennet) Batterson. He retired in 1979 from the state of Connecticut Highway Department as a truck driver. He had worked for the state for over 40 years.
From 1933 to 1935, he was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone in the U.S. Army with Company K 33rd Infantry. He re-enlisted in 1944 during World War II and was stationed in Germany with the 1150th Engineer Group.
Mr. Batterson was a life member of the Norwalk Boat Club, past president of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles and a member of the American Legion.
Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, James of New Milford and Robert of Danbury; four grandsons, Eric and Daniel of New Milford and Robert II and Brian of Danbury; and several nieces and nephews.
The Raymond Funeral Home of Norwalk was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492; or to the American Cancer Society, 1175 Post Road East, Westport, CT 06880.
George Miller Sr., 70, father of South Kent woman
George K. Miller Sr., 70, of Tamarack Avenue, Danbury, died at Danbury Hospital Dec. 4. He was the husband of Elizabeth E. “Ellamay” (Hulse) Miller.
Mr. Miller was born in Danbury Dec. 9, 1929, son of the late Ward B. and Grace (Ridgeway) Miller. He was a lifetime Danbury resident and a retired security officer, having worked for the Davis & Geck Co. in Danbury for several years.
He served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War and also served as a constable for the city of Danbury for many years.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Miller is survived by two daughters, Georgette Navarra of South Kent and Katherine Bresson and her husband Tom of Southbury; a son, George and his wife Tara of Danbury; a sister, Marion DeLuca of Danbury; five grandchildren, Katrice Bogie, Steven and Mariette Navarra and Melissa and Thomas Bresson Jr.; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, Ward and Donald.
The Green Funeral Home of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Irene J. Grisell, 80, was lifelong area resident
Irene (Jennings) Grisell, 80, of 15 Brown’s Forge Road, Gaylordsville, died Dec. 3 at Sharon Hospital.
Mrs. Grisell was born in Kent Jan. 19, 1920, a daughter of the late Clarence and Lucy (Seger) Jennings.
She was a graduate of the former Kent High School. She moved to New Milford in 1942 and had been a therapy aide at the Harlem Valley State Hospital in Wingdale, N.Y., from 1950 until her retirement in 1975.
She is survived by a daughter, Susan of New Milford; a sister, Annie Jennings of New Milford; and several nieces and nephews.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Martin J. Brady, 91, was a retired attorney
Martin J. Brady, 91, of New Milford died Nov. 30 at New Milford Hospital. He was the husband of Catherine (Barry) Brady.
Mr. Brady was born in Jersey City, N.J., Feb. 22, 1909, a son of the late Martin J. and Mary (Rikeman) Brady.
He graduated from St. Peter’s Prep, Seton Hall University and Rutgers Law School.
He retired from the law firm of Weitzman, Brady and Weitzman in New Jersey. From 1950 to 1992, he and his family resided in Chatham, N.J., before moving to New Milford.
Besides his wife, he is survived by three sons, Martin and his wife Linda of Sparta, N.J., David and his wife Mary of Park Forest, Ill., and Paul and his wife Margery of Westport; a daughter, Kathryn Healy and her husband Jack of New Milford; two sisters, Agnes O’Sullivan and Grace Lahiff; a brother, Richard; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to St. Peter’s Prep, 144 Grand St., Jersey City, NJ 07302.
Margaret Magner, 80, mother of New Milfordite
Margaret Esther Magner, 80, of Valrico, Fla., died Nov. 29. She was the wife of John Magner.
Mrs. Magner was born in Endicott, N.Y. She lived in Ossining, N.Y., from 1929 to 1970 and graduated from high school there in 1938.
She married John Magner in 1942 in Ossining, where they raised their family. They moved to Worthington, Ohio, in 1970 and later moved to the Tampa, Fla., area in 1984. She was a member of the St. Stephen Catholic Church in Brandon, Fla., and is a 3rd order Franciscan.
Besides her husband, she is survived by a son, Bruce of Brandon; two daughters, Kerry Lantz of Plant City, Fla., and JoAnn Magner, MD, of New Milford;, and four grandchildren, Elizabeth and Erin Magner, Andrea Holland and Stephanie Lantz.
The Dorsey Funeral Home of Ossining was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the National Rights to Life, 419 7th St., N.W., No. 500, Washington, DC 20004.
Dr. John Sproul, 69, had practiced in New Milford
Dr. John David Sproul, 69, of Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada, died Oct. 22. He was the husband of Olive (Salamandick) Sproul.
Dr. Sproul was born in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, the son of Greta (Atlee) Sproule of Wolfville and the late Robert L. Sproul.
He received his bachelor’s degree from Acadia University in 1952 and his master’s degree from Dalhousie University in 1957 and New York University.
He enjoyed private practice on Park Lane in New Milford, followed by employment with several pharmaceutical manufacturers. He was most recently employed by the Federal Public Service in Ottawa, Canada, until his retirement in 1990.
He is survived by his wife and mother. He was predeceased by his brothers, Robert and Atlee.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation, Tupper Building, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4H7.
