- Details
- Category: Current Issue
William L. Lockett,
WWII vet
WOODSTOCK — William L. “Bill” Lockett, 92, formerly of Dekalb, Ill., died Aug. 28, 2019, in Harrington Hospital, Southbridge, after a long illness.
He was the husband of 60 years to the late F. Louise (Baker) Lockett who died in 2016. He was born Oct. 10, 1926, in White Hall, Ill., son of the late Norman E. and Mary Edith (Ferguson) Lockett.
Bill worked from a young age helping the neighbor ladies with yard work, picking blueberries and delivering newspapers. When he wasn’t working, he lived a “Tom Sawyer existence,” roaming the fields and hills of Greene County with his pals.
When he was 18, he joined the Navy and served aboard the USS Halford during WWII until an injury sent him to Pearl Harbor to recover. Bill was then sent to the Great Lakes Naval Base where he worked as a clerical assistant in the chaplain’s office until his discharge in 1946.
Bill attended Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., and after holding jobs at Caterpillar, Inc. and as an auto mechanic, took a sales position with The Golden Rule Life Insurance Co., which later was sold and became United Health Care. During his time with The Golden Rule, Bill earned a broker’s license and for a time ran his own company, the William Lockett Insurance Agency.
Bill was widely read and followed politics closely, was a good swimmer when younger and enjoyed fishing, was a draftsman, could repair almost anything and was a self-taught carpenter. Along with his wife Louise, Bill was involved in many charities. The couple was founding members of the Sycamore Baptist Church in Illinois where he also served as a trustee. Bill was also a Boy Scout leader, a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, a member of the VFW and was on the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army in DeKalb before moving to Woodstock to live with his daughter and her family in 2012.
He leaves his daughter, Karen and her husband Charles of Woodstock; his son, Kent and his wife Beatriz of Chicago; his brother in-law, Walter Baker (Margaret) of Jacksonville, Ill.; grandchildren, Taylor Warinsky of Hartford, Noelle Warinsky and her partner Colin Breen of Lebanon, N.H., Arden Warinsky of New Britain, and Grace Lockett of Chicago. He was predeceased by his brothers, Neil, Eugene and George Lockett; and sister, Gwen Gilmore and her husband Paul.
Graveside Services are at 11 a.m. Sept. 5 in Elmvale Cemetery followed by a Life Celebration Service at the East Woodstock Congregational Church, at 11:30 a.m. Donations: Your local chapter of his favorite organizations which were the Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels, and Disabled American Veterans. . Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Clarence B. Wallen,
WWII veteran
LISBON — Clarence “Red” B. Wallen, 96, died Aug. 24, 2019, at Pendleton Health & Rehab Center in Mystic. He was married to the late Jean (Regina) Wallen who died on June 2, 1999.
He was born in 1928 in Windham, the son of the late Clarence H. and Julia (Beckwith) Wallen. At the age of 5, Clarence began singing in the choir, along with his family in the Windham Congregational Church. Clarence continued in local minstrels with his father’s band.
Clarence was a WWII U.S. Army veteran serving with the medic corps being honorably discharged on April 8, 1946.
“Red” worked for many years as a self-employed brick layer working on such projects as the Millstone Nuclear Power Plant. He was a member of the Bricklayers & Trowel Trades International. In his spare time, he enjoyed vegetable gardening on Franklin Street in Norwich and their home in Lisbon with his wife Jean.
He leaves his daughter, Patricia A. (David) Jones of Lisbon, granddaughters Danielle V. Jones of Virginia and Brittney (Benjamin) Izbicki of Griswold; daughter Mary Lou Juzwic (William) of Preston, granddaughter Tracey L. Ryan of Preston, great grandsons Michael W. Ryan of Wyoming and Jack R. Ryan of Preston and grandson William M. Juzwic of Thompson; daughter Linda (Lester) Bassett of Windham, granddaughter Chris Bernard of Willington and grandson, Don Bassett of Windham, great-grandson Joe Bernard, and great-granddaughters Jenna and Juliana Bernard. He was predeceased by his siblings Lloyd Wallen, Russell Wallen, Cornelia “Connie” Pierce, Alberta Wallen, Hazel Savluk and Marjorie Wallen.
The Service was Aug. 30 at Godere Funeral Home, Taftville with burial in Windham Center Cemetery, Windham. Donations: Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517.
Helen Bernier
DANIELSON — Helen Bernier, 89, of Danielson, died Aug. 27, 2019, at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam.
She was born April 6, 1930, in Putnam, the daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Michowski) Drobiak. She was the wife of Roland Bernier Sr. for 43 years, he died on Oct. 3, 2001.
Helen was a lifelong resident of Danielson. She grew up with her three brothers and three sisters. Helen was a communicant of St. James Church. She enjoyed gardening with her husband. Helen loved the UConn men’s and women’s basketball teams. She was a member of the Daughters of Isabella and also enjoyed volunteering at the Quinebaug Senior Center
She leaves her son Roland Bernier Jr. of Danielson; her daughter Patty Bernier of Avon; her grandchildren Meghan and Neil and two great-grandchildren; her sister Wanda Ben of Danielson. Helen was predeceased by her brothers Fred, Rudy and Jonny; her sisters Jennie Drobiak and Mary Varnish.
A Mass of Christian Burial was Aug. 31 in St. James Church, Danielson, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, Danielson. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33, Reynolds St., Danielson.
Cecile Newland
PUTNAM — Cecile Newland, 39, of Putnam, died unexpectedly Aug. 27, 2019, at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam.
She was born March 12, 1980, in Putnam, daughter of Brenda (Williams) Weeks and the late Martin Newland Sr. She was the spouse of Emma (Tong) Newland.
Cecile loved sunsets and scenic rides. She enjoyed her frequent trips to Dunkin’ Donuts, animals, wild life and especially feeding birds. She was a person with a very big heart and loved to give to people. She would also just give a helping hand. She worked as a technician for Tuscarora Plastics until being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
She leaves her mother Brenda Weeks of Dayville; her stepfather Bruce Weeks; her sisters Brenda Newland (Robert Devlin) of Dayville, Virginia Desmarais of Dayville; her brothers Michael Williams (Mishel) of Columbus, Ohio, Martin Newland Jr. of Brooklyn, Augustus Newland of Columbus; her nieces Gianna Williams, Deirdre Desmarais and Kayleigh Newland; her nephews Dylan Desmarais, Anthony Devlin, Connor Devlin and Augustus Newland; her cats Cherly, Hunter and Cornflake. She was predeceased by her cats Taj Mahal, Cyprus and Catera “Moose”.
Visitation is from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 5 at Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson, with burial at 1 p.m. Sept. 6 in South Brooklyn Cemetery, Brooklyn.
Steven Dauphinais Sr.
PUTNAM — Steven R. Dauphinais Sr., 57, died Aug. 25, 2019, at the UMass Health Care Center Hospital in Worcester.
He was born in Putnam son of the late Leo A. Dauphinais and Georgette (Savoie) Dauphinais and lived in Putnam all his life. Steven worked as a carpenter most of his life. He enjoyed motorcycles.
He leaves his wife of 20 years, Lisa B. (St. Jean) Dauphinais; three sons, Steven R. Dauphinais Jr., Justin J. Dauphinais, both of Putnam, and Michael Fournier of Killingly; four daughters; Heather A. Breault (Joshua) and Megan M. Dauphinais, both of Putnam, Jennifer Biagioni of Missouri and Beth Fournier and her fiancée Guillaume LeRoy of Woodstock; nine grandchildren. The Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
..