System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!James E. LaRock
James E. LaRock, 74, of Newport died peacefully February 3, 2004, in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
Mr. LaRock was born February 20, 1929, in Hyde Park, a son of William and Effie (Jones) LaRock. On July 1, 1990, he married Caroline Trucott, who survives him.
He was a self-employed taxi driver.
He enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening, cooking, hunting, fishing, ice fishing, and listening to country music. He enjoyed woodworking, which provided gifts for his family. He enjoyed having the family together, especially his children and grandchildren. He often traveled to Connecticut to visit his children, and he enjoyed his cat TuTu. He was willing to give his friends a helping hand when needed.
He is survived by his wife, Caroline LaRock, of Newport; by the following children: James E. LaRock Jr. of Wallingford, Connecticut, Lark Victoria and Roger Blatchley of Seymour, Connecticut, Laurel Ellen and Michael Piacenza of Derby, Connecticut, Jeffrey W. LaRock of Biddeford, Maine, and William LaRock of Boynton Beach, Florida; by stepchildren: Linda Ann Petit of Hartland, Sharon L. and Bob Blair of Orleans, Kathy Rubio of Dos Palos, California, and Cindy and Richard Mason of Coventry; by eight grandchildren; by one great-grandchild; by 12 stepgrandchildren; by five stepgreat-grandchildren; by a sister, Wyonna Lyman, and her husband, Norman, of White River Junction; and by several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brother Chet; by stepdaughter Judy Guttierez; and by granddaughter Brittney Blatchley.
Funeral services were held February 6 with Gordon Daggett officiating. Spring interment will be in Newport Center Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
William Dustin "Dusty" White Jr.
William Dustin "Dusty" White Jr., 91, a Vermont educator for over 40 years, died on April 2, 2004, of natural causes at Newport Health Care Center, where he has resided for the past two years.
Mr. White was born in 1912 in Ryegate and was a resident of Orleans County for the past 51 years. He served as principal of Orleans High School from 1953 to 1957, as superintendent of schools for the Orleans Northwest District from 1957 to 1966, and as assistant superintendent of schools for the North Country Union District until his retirement in 1976. His teaching career began in 1936 at Groton High School and Richmond High School (1937-’39). Thereafter he both taught and served as principal at Orwell (1940-’43), Jericho (1943-’47), and Hinesburg (1947-’53).
In 1941 he married Ruth Vincelette of St. Albans, who predeceased him in 1990. Mrs. White was also an educator in Vermont public schools for over 30 years.
He is survived by his daughter Sandra White Alexander of Bremerton, Washington; by his son-in-law Stephen Alexander of Bremerton; by four grandchildren: William Nathan Alexander, a lecturer in history and English at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Rachel Ruth Alexander, an attorney, and her husband, Michael, of Phoenix, Arizona, Andrew Maynard Alexander, an attorney in McLean, Virginia, and Sarah Louise Alexander, a children’s pastor in Edmonton, Alberta; and by two great-grandchildren, Elisa Alexander and Alexander Lockwood. His surviving siblings include Lucille White of Burlington, the Reverend Dwight White of Ryegate Corner, and Betty White Sykes of Springfield. He was predeceased by his parents, William Dustin White and Ethel Taplin White, of Ryegate Corner; and by his brothers Dexter, Reginald, and Hazen.
He was a founding board member of Northeast Kingdom Mental Health in 1963, retiring from the board in 1994. He was active from 1967 to 2002 with the Newport Rotary Club, serving one year as its president. He was recently honored by the city of Newport for his 25 years of service on the Newport Zoning Board of Adjustment.
After his retirement, he served on the Newport City Elementary School Board. He was chairman of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program tax assistance service for over 17 years, using his skill in math to help seniors fill out their tax forms.
He was past president of the Orleans County Historical Society and served on the Goodrich Memorial Library Board for a number of years. In appreciation for the good care Ruth White received from the local home health agency, he served on that board and volunteered for the local cancer organization.
He was a member of the Orleans Country Retired Teachers Association. He served as president of the Vermont State Retired Teachers Association in 1983.
He could always be found on Sunday mornings at the United Church of Newport, where he became a member in 1967 and served in many leadership positions. He was a faithful servant of his savior, Jesus Christ, and was always interested in the church’s ministries. Before his stroke in 1995 he was active in helping the church raise money for an elevator.
He graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelor of science in 1935 and received a master’s in education in 1940. He was not only a top scholar, but was active in extra-curricular activities. He was a member of both the UVM track and cross-country teams, editor of The Cynic, and a member of Lambda Iota fraternity and the Vermont Christian Association. He loved learning and spent many free moments reading in the UVM library.
As an educator, he was a role model, sharing his enthusiasm for books and learning with his students, helping many to realize the value of education, hard work, and character. As a citizen, he loved to be out in the community. He genuinely enjoyed people, and his credo could well be expressed by the plaque on his living room wall which read, "Let me live in a house by the side of the road and be a friend to man."
Finally, as a father and grandfather, he was the best: good, kind, wise, patient, and giving. With his wonderful sense of humor, he encouraged his whole family and they will miss him.
A celebration of Mr. White’s life was held at the United Church of Newport April 10 with the Reverend Martha Peck, the Reverend Joy Toll-Chandler, and the Reverend Dwight White officiating.
Should friends desire, contributions may be made in Mr. White’s memory to the United Church of Newport, a home health service, or the Rotary scholarship fund.
Arrangements are by Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
Ross W. Whipple
Ross W. Whipple, 84, of Newport died in Largo, Florida, on Friday, April 2, 2004.
Mr. Whipple was born on July 7, 1919, in Newport Center, the son of Don and Zetta (Armstrong) Whipple. He attended schools in Newport Center, Irasburg, Newbury, and Barre and graduated from Rutland High School in 1938.
Before coming to Newport in 1956, he worked various jobs in St. Johnsbury, Barre, Montpelier, and Burlington.
In 1940 he married Lillian M. Marineau in Montpelier. She predeceased him in June 2003.
When he and his wife came to Newport they owned a television and chainsaw business on Spring Street, and in 1959 opened a television-furniture store on Union Street with Forrest Rice as their partner. Ill health forced him to retire in 1973.
He was a very civic-minded person and was involved in many community organizations and spearheaded many different events. He was a member of Montpelier Elks No. 924 from 1949 to 1960, when he instituted the thirteenth Elks Lodge in the state in Newport. He was its first exalted ruler. He was also a past district deputy grand exalted ruler north. He was a member of Memphremagog Lodge No. 65 F&AM and a past member of the Chamber of Commerce.
He was a member of the first Vermont Environmental Commission for three years and was also one of the first class of the Vermont State Police Auxiliary. He organized two regattas that were held on the lake from Prouty Beach, which included boat racers, trick water skiers, and parachutists.
He was extremely active at the Newport State Airport and ran three very successful air shows in the mid to late 60s.
He is survived by his children: Val Whipple and his wife, Lorraine, of Newport, Lee Whipple of South Hero, and Linda Clark and her husband, Darrel, of Largo; by his grandchildren: Don Whipple and his wife, Louise, of Newport and their children Jonathan and Sydney, Chris Whipple and his wife, Betsy, of Colchester, Todd Whipple of Newport, Tamara Sterling and her husband, Jon, of Woodstock and their children: Justin, Chelsea, and Seth, Tracey Landry and her husband, David, of Wilder and their children Briana and Arica, Cory Clark and his wife, Kelly, of Loudon, New Hampshire, Sara Whipple of Oregon, and Scott Whipple of Burlington; and by a special granddaughter, Nikole Brainard and her husband, Lindsey, and their children Maya and Chase. He is also survived by his sisters Helen Simino of Burlington, Donna Krupp of St. Albans, and Leah Hansen and her husband, Ken, of Piermont, New Hampshire; and by several nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Mr. Whipple’s life will be held Saturday, April 10, at Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Home on Darling Hill Road in Newport at 11 a.m. with the Reverend Carl Shoemaker officiating. Interment will follow at Newport Center Cemetery.
Should friends desire, contributions in Mr. Whipple’s memory may be made to Orleans-Essex Visiting Nurses Association and Hospice, 46 Lakemont Road, Newport, Vermont 05855; or to Indoor Recreation of Orleans County, swimming pool fund, P.O. Box 558, Derby, Vermont 05829.
Arrangements are by Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
