Robert (Rob) Jerome King Passes Away

Rob King was a descendant of one of the oldest families in Fairfax. He married a girl from Fairfield some 56 years ago, thus has many connections with Fairfield as well as both Fletcher and Fairfax. He was a true typical old Vermonter who never passed you by without a little local conversation. His obituary below shows the wide variety of experiences Rob was a part of during his 89 years.

Our sympathy to his family. Being from the Hollow which was always a close knit group, my wife Maryann often speaks of babysitting for Rob & Theresa when they lived in the little house just up the road from where they now live.

Below is a photo of an early group get together in Buck Hollow that Rob and Theresa King attended:

Although I am not able to name them all, In the front are Katherine & Adolph Hoben Loretta Stockwell and at the right is Theresa King, Above is Eula Gillin, Rob King and then Dorothy & Bill spring Spring. Behind them is Evon Minor, Marion Webb, Ivy Ovitt, Charlie Gillin in the back, Nellie Webb, Doug Webb and Arthur Minor. The children I don't know. The photo came from one of Kathrine Hoben's old albums of people from the hollow which she could recount story after story about.

I think the children are, on Eula's lap is Suzie King and on Rob's lap is Sandy King, and in Nellie's arms is Jim Webb. The man behind Marion and Ivy is Orman Ovitt, and it is impossible to tell who is behind Doug Webb, but could it be Bill Webb?

Maryann told me today that this was a party celebrating an anniversary for Bill & Dorothy Springs. If you look closely you can see a corsage being worn by Dorothy

ROBERT J. KING FLETCHER — Robert Jerome King, 89, passed away on Saturday, July 30, 2005, at his home on the Buck Hollow Road, with his loving family at his side. He was born on March 20, 1916, at the Fletcher homestead which has been in the King family for five generations. He was the son of the late Harrison J. and Inez (Danforth) King. On Feb. 27, 1949, in St. Albans, he married the former Theresa Girard, who survives him. Robert was a longtime Fletcher dairy farmer and sugarer, retiring in 1985, was a member of Fletcher Grange 473 for over 40 years, and was an avid bingo player. In 2003, he was honored with the dedication of the Fletcher Town report for his many years of service to the town. A selectman, planning board member and chairman, a lister, fence viewer, town agent, grand juror, and school bus driver, Bob had done them all. He was first elected to the select board in 1972 and continually held a town position every year except for a year and a half break. In 2003, he completed 27 years as a lister. Besides his wife of 56 years, Theresa of Fletcher, he is survived by seven children and their spouses, Suzanne and Paul Farrar of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Sandy and Kelly Lemoine of Highgate Springs, Douglas and Kathy King of Fletcher, Lorrie and Mark Vincelette of Fletcher, Nancy and Ron Renaudette of St. Albans, Kim and Scot Phillips of Westford, and Bob and Amy King of Fletcher; 16 grandchildren; four greatgrandchildren; his mother-in-law, Blanche Gignac, of St. Albans; four brothers-in-law and their wives, Henry and Suzanne Girard of St. Albans, Roger and Nancy Girard of Connecticut, Al and Freddie Hensley of Huron, Ohio, and Ernie and Bernie Girard of New York; a sister-in-law, Corrine Lamphere of St. Johnsbury; several nieces and nephews; and close friends Carlton Ferguson, Gordie Gillilan, and Roswell Evans. In addition to his parents, Robert was predeceased by two sisters, Rita Cherrier and Phyllis Morey. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Aug. 3, at 11 a.m. in the Binghamville United Methodist Church with Pastor Bruce Patterson officiating. Interment will be in the family lot at Carroll Hill Cemetery in Fairfax. Friends may call on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Heald Funeral Home, 87 S. Main St., St. Albans. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Hospice Program of the Franklin County Home Health Agency, 3 Home Health Circle, St. Albans, Vt. 05478. Messages of condolence and memories are welcome at http://www.healdfuneralhome.com.