Gordon Arthur Fletcher
“The Green Mountain Boy”Jeffersonville - Gordon Arthur Fletcher, 87, of Jeffersonville, passed away April 1, 2012 after a brave fight with bone cancer. Gordon was born on May 11, 1924 (Mother’s Day that year) in Townshend, VT to the late Arthur and Mabel (Columbus) Fletcher. Raised in West Dummerston, he graduated from Brattleboro High School in 1943. After graduation, Gordon served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a military policeman and cook. He had the privilege of cooking for Eisenhower and Patton, among other top military brass. He was in the European theater (Germany) when the war ended.
After the war, Gordon returned to the States and married Marion Wade on May 25, 1947. They moved to Washington D.C. where they started their family and Gordon earned a BA in Accounting from George Washington University and a BA in Soils and Sciences from Maryland University. He moved his family to Hinesburg, VT in 1951 to begin farming. He was ahead of his time for much of Vermont and built the first successful free stall barn in Chittenden County. He operated his farm for 22 years before purchasing a farm in Sheldon in April 1973. Gordon retired from farming in 1991. Not one to sit back and relax, he continued working at Imported Car Ctr. in Williston, Allenholm Orchards in South Hero and Smuggler’s Notch Resort in Jeffersonville, where he operated the Mogul Mouse lift. He will be remembered for his love of gardening, hiking, cribbage, and solitaire. He was very proud of being able to donate blood on a regular basis to the American Red Cross, as well as his membership in the 251 Club and his cross-country trip to Alaska. He loved to read and always had a thirst for history, which he shared by story-telling. He was a fan of the Montreal Expos and was fond of going to games in Montreal.
Gordon is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marion (Wade) Fletcher: his 7 children Dale Cota Fields of Jeffersonville, Margot Fletcher and partner, John Yarbrough, of Las Vegas, Ronald Fletcher of Wilmer, TX/Fairfield, VT, Melissa Fletcher of Phoenix, AZ, Mark Fletcher and wife Sarah Phillips of Fairfax, John Fletcher of Montana, and Eric Fletcher of Brandon, FL; his grandchildren – Chawna Cota and partner Mike Carpenter, Ginger Fletcher-Santillan, Nicholas Cota, Amy Fletcher, Steven Fletcher and partner Amanda Stevens, Christina Bullis and husband Travis, Wade Fletcher and partner Dillyn Klemchuk, Sara Fletcher and fiancée Bruce Gabaree, and Stacey Fletcher, as well as his great-grandson, Neill Arthur Bullis, whose expected arrival is also May 11. Numerous sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews also survive him.
In addition to his parents, Gordon was predeceased by an infant brother, Walton, his daughter-in-law Nancy (Dow) Fletcher and grandson Alexander Fletcher.
Visiting hours will be held at Second Congregational United Church in Jeffersonville on Saturday, April 7, 2012 from 1 p.m. until the service at 3 p.m. with the Reverend Comstock officiating. A reception will immediately follow the service. Graveside commitment will be private and at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Gordon’s memory may be made to Lamoille Area Cancer Network, PO Box 38, Lake Elmore, VT 05657. Arrangements are by A. W. Rich Funeral Home – Fairfax Chapel, 1176 Main Street, Fairfax, VT 05454. The family invites you to share your memories and online condolences by visiting
www.awrichfuneralhomes.com.
“Each soul is a beautiful flower that passes from this Earth – only to bloom again in heaven’s garden.”
