Dick Ketcham - Age 80 - Passes Away

[Henry]

Richard W. Ketcham, Sr.
(May 8, 1928 - August 1, 2008)

 St. Albans / Fairfax: Richard W. Ketcham, Sr. 80, died Friday, August 1, 2008 in the Franklin County Rehab following a brief illness. Born in Greenport, New York on May 8, 1928, he was the son of the late Averill and Mildred (Ankers) Ketcham.

Prior to making Fairfax his home in 1972, Dick first lived in Westford. In 1998, he moved to St. Albans to make his home with his daughter and son-in-law, Mariette and James Shepard.

He married the former Marion King on April 13, 1952 at Orient, New York. She passed away in April of 1993.

After graduating from Greenport, New York High School, he served in the U. S. Navy during World War II. Prior to moving to Vermont, Mr. Ketcham resided on Long Island where he was known as “Bud” and served as Fire Chief of the East Marion, New York Fire Department. He enjoyed playing several instruments, including guitar, mandolin and banjo and played in a local band on Long Island known as “Bashful Buddy and the Biscuit Beaters”. After moving to Vermont, Mr. Ketcham was employed at IBM from 1968 until his retirement in 1987 and was a longtime member of the Fairfax Fire Department and served as Assistant Chief for several years.

Mr. Ketcham was very active in Free Masonry. He was a longtime member and Past Master of Lamoille Lodge 6 F&AM. He was also Past District Deputy for the Seventh Masonic District Grand Lodge of Vermont F&AM. Mr. Ketcham was a founding father and charter member of Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill, Champlain Order 115. His other Masonic memberships include, Mt. Sinai Shrine # 3, Northern Vermont Shrine Club Motor Corp and York Rite Bodies of St. Albans. He also was Past Worthy Patron of Unity Chapter 17 OES in Fairfax and a member of American Legion Post 35 in Cambridge. Dick enjoyed hunting, fishing and doing jigsaw puzzles.

He is survived by four children; Mariette K. Shepard and husband, James of St. Albans, Richard W. Ketcham, II and wife, Maureen of Vernon, Timothy W. Ketcham of Burlington and Laurie Broe and husband, Jeffrey of Georgia. A sister-in-law, Theresa Ketcham of East Marion, New York, a brother-in-law, Roscoe King of Orient, New York, eight grandchildren, Melissa Shepard, Cory Popple, Joshua Popple, Shannon Ketcham, Brendan Ketcham, Colin Ketcham, Christopher Broe and Nicholas Broe, five great grandchildren, Brooklyn Bruce, Bailey Popple, Leanna St. Francis, Layla St. Francis and Nick Root. Several nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Masonic Graveside service will be held Wednesday, August 6, 2008, at 11:00 AM at the Carroll Hill Cemetery, Carroll Hill Road, Fairfax. Visiting hours will be Tuesday, August 5, 2008, from 5-8 PM in the Heald Funeral Home, 87 South Main Street, St. Albans. Memorial contributions may be made to the East Marion, New York Fire Department in care of Terry Ketcham, P.O. Box 176, East Marion, NY 11939. Assisting the Ketcham family is Lucien J. Hayes of the Heald Funeral Home in St. ALbans. Online condolences may be sent to family of Richard W. Ketcham, Sr. through www.healdfuneralhome.com.

[Henry]

Although it isn't mentioned in the obituary, I seem to remember Dick having worked up at J & L Hardware also after his retirement.  Dick used to live in the village here in the Old Southard House across from Isabelle Boutin.  After he sold that, he built a house up on Brick Church Road and sold that in June of 1999.  Mike Cain has a few remembrances of Dick in his Blog http://mysite.verizon.net/vze7krm0/ this morning also.

[Henry]

FUNERAL HELD FOR RICHARD W. KETCHAM, SR.

ST. ALBANS/FAIRFAX:  A traditional Masonic graveside funeral service for Richard W. Ketcham, Sr., Past District Deputy Grand Master of the Seventh Masonic District for the Grand Lodge of Vermont and Past Master of Fairfax Lamoille Lodge# 6 F&AM, who passed away Friday, August 01, 2008, was held Wednesday, August 06, 2008, at the family lot in Carroll Hill Cemetery in Fairfax.   The conducting Master was Albert Severy, Past Master of Lamoille Lodge #6 F & AM and conducting Chaplain was John “Jack” Campbell, Jr., Most Worshipful Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Vermont  F&AM.
 
Full fire fighter honors, including a cortege of fire apparatus, was accorded the former Assistant Chief of the Fairfax Fire Department and former Chief of the East Marion (NY) Fire Department.  The urn ark bearing Dick’s remains was conveyed to the cemetery by Fairfax Utility 1, driven by former Fire Chief James Field.  Leading the procession was Engine 2 which was driven by firefighter Paul Langelier and accompanied by firefighter Michael Cain.

 Attending and forming an honor guard were many Masons.  Lodges represented were:  Grand Lodge of Vermont F&AM, Lamoille Lodge #6 F&AM, Franklin Lodge# 4 F&AM, Haswell Lodge# 39 F&AM, Seneca Lodge# 40 F&AM and Friendship Lodge# 24, F&AM.  Other Masonic affiliations present were Sword of Bunker Hill Champlain Order 115, Mt. Sinai Shrine Temple# 3, Northern Vermont Shrine Club Motor Corp and York Rite.

 Also attending were representation from Unity Chapter# 17 OES, Grand Chapter of Vermont OES, Cambridge American Legion Post # 35, UVM Student Health Crew, Georgia Town Office, Georgia Plains Baptist Church, Georgia Fire Department, JRS Drywall Company, Rainville Collision Repair, Fairfax Historical Society, The Mams Ladies, Twin State Electrical and former co-workers from IBM.  The American Flag for the World War II Navy Veteran was presented to his son, Richard W. Ketcham, II by Richard Becker, Commander of Cambridge American Legion Post #35.

 Urn Ark Bearers were:  Jack Campbell, Jim Woodward, Jim Anderson and Lucien Hayes.

 As a final tribute, the”Last Alarm” was sounded at the conclusion of the funeral services by firefighter, Paul Langelier.  Assisting the Ketcham family is Lucien J. Hayes of the Heald Funeral Home, 87 South Main Street, St. Albans