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It is with the deepest sadness that we share the loss of our most beloved father and grandfather. Robert J. Plante, Sr, 81, of Hinesburg passed away on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at home surrounded by his loving family.
Bob was a lifelong Hinesburg resident. On a cold February 11, 1935, he was born on the family farm, known now as the Isham Farm, to Charles O. and Laura Beaudoin Plante. He graduated from Hinesburg High School in 1953 and on April 28, 1962, he married the love of his life, Grace Martha Blackmore. He passed away one day before their 54th wedding anniversary.
Upon graduation, he enlisted in the US Army and served from 1955 until he was honorably discharged in 1963 as a Sergeant First Class Battery A 1st How BN 124th Artillery. During his station in Little Rock, AK, he was assigned to a detachment to protect the Little Rock 9, which left a lasting impression on him. He then returned home to help run the family farm. In 1960, the farm was sold and he went to work at the Economou Creamery.
His next endeavor was working at IBM where he was a Senior Lab Specialist. He retired on May 1, 1987. Bob was part of the Lift Off Tool Development and several other patents at IBM. He became close with several respected coworkers and after retirement he would frequently get together with George Lebeau, Mack McKenna, Rod Hood and John Pierce.
Bob was not one for being idle. For twenty years, he operated Blackmore Apiaries. He worked for the town of Hinesburg at the landfill and the cemetery. At the age of 57, he worked Clay Equipment with Jim Doane where he many times had to climb 100 foot Silos.
Bob then turned to construction with George Palmer for a few years and finally retired in 2003 after working at Parent Construction repairing and maintaining their large diesel equipment.
Bob and his wife purchased their lifelong home in Sunny Acres in 1968. Bob was the frequent go-to person to fix and repair things. For many years, he ran the water co-op. He was always doing things for neighborhood kids, including wagon rides, snow blowing the ice on Lake Sunset to skate and play hockey, mowing the ball field and pumping air into bike tires.
Bob and his wife Grace loved to travel with their family. They went out West and enjoyed the national parks, Hawaii, St. Kitts, Atlantis, Jamaica and, in celebration of their 50th Wedding Anniversary, went to Florida with the family. Bob also enjoyed his weekend trips to the casino and loved his nickel slots. On Saturdays, he could be found looking for tools at local flea markets and yard sales and would take them back to putter in his barn.
There wasn’t anything he couldn’t or wouldn’t fix for his grandchildren. He was a strong mentor for his sons and daughter in laws. He was always the strong Dad for his four children, and we cannot express our gratefulness for having him and Grace as parents.
Bob is survived by his daughters Laura Plante of South Burlington, Stephanie and Stephen Longshore of Williston, Roberta and Mark Hipes of Fletcher, and his son Robert and Laurel Plante of Shelburne. Bob leaves his 6 beloved grandchildren Lewis Hipes, Catherine (Longshore) and Stuart Schreiber, Alexandra Longshore, Logan Hipes, Ethan Plante and last but never least Sadie Plante. Bob also leaves his sisters Marguerite Zywiak of Marcy, NY and Pauline (Cookie) Paquin and her husband Clinton of St. Albans and his sister in law Marie Plante of Bethesda, MD. He is also survived by his wife’s family Mary and Paul Ouellette, Nancy Ruggles, Joyce Brileya, Alonzo and Joan Blackmore, Cynthia Blackmore and a very special David and Christine Blackmore of Underhill, Vermont. He leaves many nieces and nephews.
Bobs wife Gracie predeceased him in June 2014. He is also predeceased by his parents, brothers Joseph Plante, Charles O. and Beatrice Plante, Albert and Gertrude Plante, Laurence Plante, Ernest Plante, and sister, Mary Plante and in-laws Henry Zywiak, Alonzo and Emma Blackmore and Robert Blackmore.
We would like to send a special thank you to Tenzin Lobsang and Theresa Smart who took great care of our Dad.
A private family service will be held at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimers Association of Vermont, 300 Cornerstone Dr, Williston, VT 05495. The family invites you to share your memories and condolences by visiting www.awrfh.com