Charles E. Pike,

WWII vet

HAMPTON —  Charles E. Pike, 90, of Hampton died Jan. 27, 2016,  after a lengthy illness, to be with his wife in Heaven.

He was born on Sept. 24, 1925, the son of the late Clarence E Pike and Alice Alberty Pike. 

He was a wounded U.S. Army veteran of WWII who saw action in the South Pacific. The transport ship he was on was torpedoed and a piece of shrapnel hit him in his right arm. A tough man, he bound up his own wound and carried on, retaining the shrapnel in his arm for the rest of his life. 

Growing up during the Great Depression, he learned what hard work was when his father pulled him out of school while in the eighth grade and required him to work in order to help support the family. From that early introduction to work, Charles learned to be a “Jack of all trades,” skilled in carpentry, electricity, plumbing, mechanics, in addition to many other skills. 

He later worked for the Molnar Construction Company from the 1950s until 1974 and was known as “Charlie Ponds” for the countless ponds he dug in the local area. He also cleared the land on which Parish Hill High School in Chaplin now sits. He founded Charles E. Pike and Sons Portable Sawmill in 1974 and worked full time on the mill into his late 70s, and part time after that. 

Besides his parents, he is predeceased by his wife Virginia, who died in 2008, and his sister Alice. He leaves his step-son Randall Baird; and sons Clarence, Daniel, Charles Jr., William; and his daughters Alice and Norma; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The Funeral Service was Feb. 1 at Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson, with burial in the spring in Litchfield Cemetery, Hampton, with military honors. Arrangements by Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Joseph Truppa

KILLINGLY — Joseph John Truppa, 67,  of “Joe’s Handyman Service,” of Killingly formerly of Putnam, died Jan. 24, 2016, at home. He lost his old life to cancer and gained his new life in heaven. He was the husband of Janet (Duquette) Truppa. They were married on May 8, 1971. 

He was born Jan. 6, 1949, in Putnam, son of the late Carl and Mary (Corvo) Truppa.

Joseph was a devout member of the Putnam Baptist Church and a member of the Brown Hats. He was self-employed for 34 years. He loved taking his grandchildren on tractor rides. Joseph was a Yankee fan and loved music. His jovial, Christian outlook on life inspired many.

He leaves his wife Janet of Killingly; two daughters; Jennifer (Truppa) Chambers of Killingly, Mary J. (Truppa) Kanz (Christopher) of Whitinsville, Mass., siblings; Carmine (Marie), Frances and her husband Joseph, Theresa Gendron, Rosz and her husband Doug and a sister-in-law Barbara Truppa, grandchildren; Kayleigh, Cameron and Anthony. He was predeceased by a brother Stephen Truppa.

The Funeral was Jan. 30 at the Putnam Baptist Church with burial in Munyan Cemetery. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Claire L. Bennett

PUTNAM — Claire L. Bennett, 79, of Putnam, died unexpectedly, Jan. 27, 2016, at the Webster Traditional Care Unit in Webster. Born Feb. 23, 1936, in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Roland and Mary (LaBossiere) Gaucher. 

Claire was a lifelong resident of Putnam and was a communicant of St. Mary Church of the Visitation. Claire was a Constant Care Attendant at Day Kimball Hospital for more than 10 years, worked at US Button for more than 30 years and also at the C & M Corp. She enjoyed playing bingo.

Claire leaves her brother Roland, wife Diane and their three children, Roland, Matthew and Daniel; her children, Sandra Klein (Mark) of Putnam, Richard Bennett Jr. (Louise) of Putnam, David Bennett (Lori) of Pomfret; grandchildren Lynn, Angela, Brian, Rebecca, Christina, Mark Jr., Jacob, Nicole; great-grandchildren Branson, Riley, Leila, Layton and Nolan; her good friend Dot Murawski of Putnam. She was predeceased by her daughter Linda Bennett in 1960 and her former husband Richard in 2006.

The Memorial Service was Feb. 2 at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: DKH Cardiac Rehab, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. 

 

Elois H. McElroy

WOODSTOCK — Elois “Ellie” McElroy, 85, of Hibbard Rd., died Jan. 28, 2016, at home. She was the wife of Richard G. McElroy for 57 years.  Born in 1930 in Boston, MA, she was the daughter of the late Milton and Velma (Corlis) Hersey.

Mrs. McElroy worked as a nurse for Day Kimball Hospital and was a reporter for the Norwich Bulletin and the Hartford Courant.  She was an avid reader and was involved in many local book clubs.  She enjoyed traveling all over the world and especially London, England.  She was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Brooklyn.

In addition to her husband, Ellie leaves her daughters, Anne McElroy of Webster, and Pauline Delin of Medway, Mass.; grandchildren, Austin Delin and Griffin Delin.  

A gathering for family and friends will be announced in the near future.   Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes.

 

Mark P. Poitras Jr.

DANIELSON — Mark P. Poitras Jr. of Danielson died unexpectedly on Jan. 24, 2016. He was born on Nov. 5, 1970, son of Mark Poitras Sr. and Darlene Mazzarella.  Mark had many interests in life.  He was a quick-witted comedian and loved to make people laugh.  His biggest and most important loves in his life were his two boys, Derek and Cross. He worked at Thrifty Car Sales of Franklin as a salesman and assistant F&I manager.

Besides his parents, he leaves his stepmom Frances Poitras; his two sons Derek Poitras of Orlando, Fla., and Cross Poitras of Danielson; his sister Angela Mancini and fiancé Mathieu Baker of Putnam; stepsister Connie Rivera; favorite aunt, who was more like his sister, Jackie Mazzarella of Danielson.  

A Mass was Jan. 30 at St. James Church in Danielson. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, , Webster.

 

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