Norman F. Babbitt,

Korean war vet

THOMPSON — Norman F. Babbitt of Quaddick Town Farm Road was called home to the Lord Jan. 31, 2017.  

He was born Feb. 20, 1929, in Webster, the son of the late Albert C. and Edla (Svenning) Babbitt. 

Mr. Babbitt taught industrial arts at Hillhouse High School and Troop Middle School in New Haven for more than 25 years.  Before earning his bachelor’s degree at Central Connecticut State University and pursuing his career in education, he worked as a tradesman carpenter and surveyor.

Upon his retirement, he and his wife returned to Thompson and established their new home in E. Thompson.  During the next 20 years, Norman became involved in many volunteer activities and organizations.  His favorites were working with and for the hard of hearing, children’s camps, especially the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, the Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group and a variety of veterans’ causes and organizations, along with his church, Emanuel Lutheran of N. Grosvenordale.  He received many awards and recognitions for his volunteerism.  The proudest moment he had was when the Veterans Room at the Thompson Town Hall was named in his honor.  Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day were two of his greatest concerns.  He sold poppies, he fostered programs at the Thompson Public Schools for veterans and worked tirelessly to assure that the Thompson Memorial Day parade stepped off at 9 a.m. sharp….and without a hitch.  His concerns were genuine and to the point of actually painting both the VFW Post building in Quinebaug and the TEEG building in N. Grosvenordale by himself.

Norman was a Korean war veteran receiving three battle stars while serving in the 25th Infantry Division.  He was a member of the Oscar Swanson Post #67 American Legion.  He held many positions within Post #10088 VFW of Thompson.  He served on the Board of TEEG of Thompson, The Corner Stone Quinebaug Lodge of Masons #122, a Lifetime member of the Valley Springs Sportsmans Club and served on the Church Council of Emanuel Lutheran Church of N. Grosvenordale.  

He leaves his wife of 62 years, Mary (Rice) Babbitt; his brother, A. David Babbitt (Margaret) of Thompson; his brothers in law, James Rice (Theresa) of N. Grosvenordale, and John Rice (Elizabeth) of Thompson; his sisters in-laws, Helen Miner of Putnam, Jane Nichols (Ralph) of Brimfield, Mass., and Jenny Beaudry of Southbridge; nephews; and nieces.  He was predeceased by his brother, Marvin Babbitt.  

The Funeral Service is at 11 a.m. Feb. 11 in the Emanuel Lutheran Church, 83 Main St., N. Grosvenordale. Donations: Emanuel Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 221, N. Grosvenordale, CT 06255.  Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Andrew Crabtree

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Sgt. 1st Class (Retired), Andrew Niles Crabtree, 32 of Clarksville, died Feb. 2, 2017, at Centennial Hospital in Nashville. 

The Putnam native was born Oct. 28, 1984, to Peter and Sue Reall Crabtree who survive. 

He was a member of Grace Community Church. 

In addition to his parents, he leaves his wife, Rachel Faith Crabtree; one daughter, Levi Janette Crabtree; one son, Gavin Jameson Niles Crabtree; one sister, Jenna Tomlin (Jesse) and nephew, Ezra; one brother, Nathan Crabtree (Rachel) and nieces, Lydia and Annabelle and nephew, Walker; maternal grandfather, Bob Reall; paternal grandmother, Irene Crabtree. 

Memorial Services were Feb. 5 at Grace Community Church, Bowling Green, Ky.  Additional Memorial Services will be held Feb. 10 at the Fort Campbell Army Base, Liberty Chapel, Ft. Campbell, Ky.. Donations: Special Forces Association Chapter 38, P O Box 223, Ft. Campbell, KY 42223. Johnson-Vaughn-Phelps Funeral Home, Bowling Green.

 

Janice Lincoln

WOODSTOCK — Janice C. (Cannon) Lincoln, 74, died on Jan. 31, 2017, at home. 

Mrs. Lincoln was born in 1942 in East Berlin, the daughter of the late Virginia Cannon and attended East Berlin High School. 

An active member of the Rainbow for Girls Masonic youth organization. She enjoyed spending time with her family, playing cards and caring for her yard. 

She leaves her husband of 52 years Stephen B. Lincoln; daughters Cindy B Lincoln, Kelly A. Lincoln Hamill (Mark), all of Woodstock; grandchildren Ron Olivieri Jr., Dylan Hamill and Emily Hamill; siblings Leonard Cannon (Joyce) of Bristol, Virginia Oleander of Middletown, Kathleen Carlson (John) of Woodstock and Laura Krug of Danielson. She was predeceased by her brother Thomas Cannon.

A Memorial Service was Feb. 4 at the E. Woodstock Congregational Church. Burial will be private. Donations: Muddy Brook Volunteer Fire Dept. P.O. Box 222 East Woodstock. CT 06244. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Cecile A. Gendron

PUTNAM —  Cecile A. (LeBreux) Gendron, 82, of Ballou St., died Jan. 29, 2017, in Day Kimball Hospital. Born in 1934 in Sanford, Maine, she was the daughter of the late Albert and Mildred (Christensen) LeBreux.

Mrs. Gendron worked in the packaging department for Tuscarora Plastics.  She enjoyed playing bingo.  

She leaves her sons, Michael Gendron of Woodstock, and Barry Gendron (Linda) of N. Grosvenordale; her daughters, Norma Alvord of Dayville, and Janet Gendron of Putnam; her sister, Janet Mowry of Buzzards Bay, Mass.; her grandchildren Carrie, Keith, Justin, Nicole, Jesse, Robin, Jaryd, and Myriah; her great grandchildren, Kayla, Brittani, Kelsey, Gavin, Cameron, Dillon, Jasmine, Logan, and Alaina; and her great-great granddaughter, Alyia. She was predeceased by her sister, the late Donna Lee Green.  

Services are private. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory, 104 Church St. Putnam.

 

Lorraine C. Goulet

PUTNAM — Lorraine C. (Coman) Goulet, 64, of Putnam, died Jan. 30, 2017, at Matulaitis Nursing Home. She was the wife of Ronald Goulet for 46 years. They were married Jan. 23, 1971. 

She was born Sept. 4, 1952, in Putnam, daughter of the late Floyd and Doris (Audette) Coman.

Lorraine worked as a CNA and was a material facilitator at American Optical. She loved to camp the coast of Maine. She enjoyed her camp in Crystal, Maine. She enjoyed the Red Sox and Patriots, enjoyed gardening at her home in Putnam, vegetable and flower gardens. She enjoyed the art of cooking and loved to go for rides to find new restaurants to enjoy with friends and family. 

She leaves her husband Ronald of Putnam; a brother Eddy Coman of Putnam; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two sisters Linda (Coman) Auger and Irene (Coman) Levesque.  

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Feb. 11 at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: Oncology Department at Day Kimball Hospital, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. 

 

Lois Harrington

KILLINGLY — Lois Marian (Cooke) Harrington, 89, died Feb. 5, 2017, at Davis Place in Danielson.

 She was born Feb. 7, 1927, the daughter of the late Nathan and Marion (Grover) Cooke and wife of the late Lawrence B. Harrington. 

She and her husband had owned and operated Quinnequack Farm in Dayville until 1974. 

Lois was a bookkeeper for many years at the former Agway in Putnam and served as a 4-H leader for 10 years.

She leaves her son, Lawrence B. Harrington Jr. (Marlene) of Lebanon; daughter Elizabeth Crossman (Asa) of Dayville; son, DeWitt Harrington (Wendy) of Brooklyn; sisters Alyce Meagher of Danielson, Janice Cooper (Lincoln) of Sterling; brother Donald Cooke (Orise) of Danielson; sister-in-law Valeria Cooke of Dayville; five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a brother, Wallace Cooke.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon Feb. 18 at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St.,  Putnam,  a Memorial Service will follow at noon at the funeral home. 

Burial will be in the spring in Quassett Cemetery, Woodstock. 

Donations: American Heart Association, PO 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005; or the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook Street, I-91 Tech Ctr, Rocky Hill, CT 06067-3045. 

 

Elaine Johnson

WOODSTOCK — Elaine Irene Johnson, 88, of Woodstock, died Jan. 31, 2017, at the Pierce Memorial Baptist Home in Brooklyn. She was the wife of Henry W. Johnson. They were married May 28, 1949. 

She was born Oct. 14, 1928, in Webster, daughter of the late Jean and Ellen (Strack) Gauthier.  

She had made her home in Woodstock all her married life, and her youth in Oxford, Mass.  She worked for several years at the former B&W Footwear in Webster.  Elaine enjoyed gardening, knitting, puzzles, bingo, cooking, canning and helping out on the family farm. 

Elaine and her husband were foster parents in the 1970s for more than 100 children. She leaves her children and their spouses Robert and Grace Johnson, Donna and Scott Williams, LuAnne Daley, all of Woodstock; her sisters Barbara Wheeler and Doris Prouty, both of Webster; grandchildren, Kristina and John Nowak, Benjamin and Bethany Johnson, Jennifer Harris, Angela and Steve Nowakowski, Jason and Jennifer St. Jean, Amanda Buchanan, Ian Williams and Judith Alcivar, Brandon and Melissa Fish, Jeffrey Fish and Chelsea Whitecross, Tyler and Elizabeth Fish;  great-grandchildren: Thaddeus Johnson Nowak, Penelope Johnson, Samantha Withers, Allison Royer, Sebastian Harris, Madison Harris, Aiden Gagnon, Hailey Gagnon, Lilian Alcivar, Lorelai Fish, Mason Fish, Arizona Fish, Phoenix Aniello, Timothy Nowakowski, Elijah Nenichka, Laura St. Jean,  great-great-grandchildren Gabriel Scala and Jason Royer. She was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Henry W. Johnson (2008); her son Richard Johnson (1970;, her daughter and son-in-law Linda (2013) and Arthur (2010) St. Jean; her sister Joyce Wilson (2009)

Burial will be private. Donations:  American Cancer Society, 825 Brook Street, I-91 Tech Ctr, Rocky Hill, CT 06067-3045. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Sally Kneeland

THOMPSON — Sally Kneeland, 83, of Thompson, died Jan. 27, 2017, at home. She was the wife of the late William Kneeland.  

She leaves her children Robert Kneeland (Dolores), Thomas Kneeland (Angela), Diane Wait (Jim), John Kneeland (Brenda); four grandchildren. She was predeceased by her daughter Kathy in 1989. 

The funeral is private. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Elizabeth Adams

ASHFORD — Elizabeth B. (Botham) Adams, 97, of Ashford, died Feb. 5, 2017, at Westview Health Care Center in Dayville.

She was born in Putnam, daughter of the late Frederick and Hattie Jane (Carver) Botham and lived in Ashford all her life.  She was a homemaker and enjoyed cross stitch and embroidery.

Her husband, Oren P. Adams Jr., died in 1990.  She leaves one son, James O. Adams (Aline) of Brooklyn; two daughters, Jane B. Garcia (David) of Blairsville, Ga, Martha B. Gerling (Stephen) of Ashford; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.  She was predeceased by a sister, Eva Hillmann.

The Funeral was private. Donations: CT. Humane Society, 701 Russell Road, Newington, CT 06111.  Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

Alfred Migneault

ROTTERDAM, N.Y. — Alfred Jordan  Migneault, 78, of Rotterdam, died Jan. 27, 2017.

Al was born on Nov. 20, 1938, in Providence. He was an Eagle Scout and was a graduate of Putnam High School in Putnam and earned a civil engineering degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. 

Highlights of Al’s lifelong career as a civil engineer for New York State’s Environmental Conservation Department including: construction supervision for the 1980 Olympic Winter Games and state fish hatcheries. He continued to hold his professional engineer license until the time of his death, as well as serving as a trustee to the Atlantic Coast Old Timers Auto Racing Club, and volunteering at Christ Church of the Hills in Mariaville.  Never able to idle, his true avocation was building: barns, home additions and the family camp.  He leaves his wife of 54 years, Nancy; two children  Melissa (Rick) and Peter (Stacy); five grandchildren: Isabella,  Jordan, Alexandra, Owen and Cassidy. He was predeceased by his parents, Alfred and Martha, and  sister Paula Migneault.

 Memorial service will be held in the spring.  Donations: Christ Church of the Hills, 4809 Mariaville Rd. Schenectady, NY 12306.  Daly Funeral Home, Inc., Schenectady. 

 

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