Allen Corliss Dies At Age 89

Allen B. Corliss

St. Albans - Allen Bruce Corliss, 89, died peacefully on September 18, 2010 following a lingering illness.

He was born August 30, 1921 to Allene (Soule) Corliss and Bruce R. Corliss and attended schools in St. Albans and Fairfield, Curtis School, and Eaglebrook School and subsequently attended and graduated from Lyndon Institute in 1941. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Corp in June, 1941 and served in the 8th Air Force in Trinidad and the United Kingdom. Following the war, he attended the Vermont State School of Agriculture. Allen married Kathlyn Miller in 1948 in St. Luke's Church, St. Albans. He farmed the Buck Hollow Farm in Fairfax, Vt. for many years and later worked at Green Mountain Animal Hospital, Burlington, and American Animal Hospital, South Gate Animal Clinic, Sarasota, FL. He was also involved with Corliss Realty and the development of Butler Island. As a long-time resident of Franklin County, he had a strong interest in local and state history and was active in local historical societies. Allen spent years, many before the computer age, researching family ancestors in cemeteries, town records, and through letters, recording not only names and dates, but human interest stories as well. He leaves behind a legacy that will long be treasured by the family. Single-handedly, he restored a neglected cemetery in Fairfield, Vermont, thus inspiring the town to do the same thing for other old cemeteries. A great conversationalist, Allen was known for his sense of humor.

He is survived by a son, Bruce H. Corliss, and Teresa Corliss of Durham, NC; daughter, Corliss Blakely, and Barry Hickok of St. Albans, VT.; daughter, Julie Dennis, of Fairfax, VA; sisters, Jane LaRock and Marguerite Hayes of Burlington, VT. and grandchildren, Anna K. Corliss, Bruce A. Corliss, Mark Trenholm, Ivanete Trenholm, and Elliott Palmer. He was predeceased by his wife, Kathlyn M. Corliss, who died in 1990.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 25, 2010, at 2:00 PM in the Heald Funeral Chapel, 87 South Main Street. The Reverend Mr. James Ballard, Deacon at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church will officiate. Interment will follow in the family lot in Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 3300 East Sunrise Drive, Tucson, AZ 85718. Messages of condolence are welcome at www.healdfuneralhome.com.