St. Albans City Water Treatment Plant In North Fairfax Named For This Man

[Henry]

Rupert D. Blatchley

St. Albans - Rupert D. Blatchley, 99, a life long resident of this area passed away Wednesday evening January 16, 2008, shortly after arrival at the Northwestern Medical Center with his loving family at his side.  He was born in Georgia, Vermont on September 11, 1908, the son of the late Frank and Leonore (White) Blatchley.   On September 11, 1948,in St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Rupert married the former, Enid McGowan, who survives him.

Rupert started his working career at the age of nine on a farm in Georgia.  At the age of seventeen he began his forty-six years of service with the Central Vermont Railway as a Car Maker Apprentice.  Upon his retirement with the railroad, he was General Foreman of the Central Vermont Railway.   In 1970 Rupert began  his twenty-five year career with the City of St. Albans as Chief Plant Operator with the St. Albans City Water Treatment Plant in Fairfax.  This building was dedicated in his name when he retired in 1995. 

Rupert had a love for airplanes and spent many enjoyable hours flying his plane from the Franklin County Airport in Highgate.  Since having an uncle, Henry Dustin Blatchley, who fought in the Civil War, he became an ardent enthusiast.  As an avid Red Sox fan, he preferred listening to the games on the radio, rather than watching them on TV.  Rupert was a seventy-five year member of Franklin Lodge #4, F&AM and a member of the Georgia Historical Society. This last December, he celebrated his 100th Christmas with his family.

Survivors include his wife of fifty-nine years, Enid of St. Albans, a son, James Blatchley and his wife Jeannette of Virginia,   two daughters, Candace Dillner and her husband, Daniel of Milton and Mary Blatchley of St. Albans, eight grandchildren, Dustin and Joshua Blatchley, Daniel Dillner, II and his wife Jessica, Stephanie Fortier and her husband, Greg,, Jennifer Dillner, Sarah Dillner, Valerie Dillner and Andrea Dillner, two great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Samuel Dillner and step-grandson, David Tria.  Rupert is also survived by a special nephew, Oscar Blatchley, Jr. and his wife, Donna of St. Albans and their two children, David and Amanda, two nieces, Arlene Slate and her husband, Charles of Brattleboro and Lorraine Daniels of Hinsdale, New Hampshire and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Luther and Laura Hilliker of Thaxton, Virginia.  In addition to his parents, Rupert was preceded in death by his brother, Oscar Blatchley, Sr. and his wife, Dorothy, his sisters, Roberta Curtin and Frances Bostwick and her husband, Lee.

He was a wonderful and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, January 21, 2008, at 2:00 P.M. in the Heald Funeral Chapel, 87 South Main Street, St. Albans with the Reverend Herman Benjamin, Pastor of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church officiating. Prayers of Committal and interment will be held later this spring in the Blatchley family lot in Georgia Plain Cemetery. Rupert’s family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 12:30 PM until the time of the service.  Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Georgia Historical Society, c/o Mr. Peter Mallett, Box 2001,Georgia, Vermont 05468 or the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 3049, Syracuse, New York 13220-3049.  Messages of condolence are welcome at www.healdfuneralhome.com.