DALTON S. MACHIA FAIRFAX/ST. ALBANS - Dalton Seymour Machia, 84, also known as "Mert", passed away St. Patrick's Day, 2011. He passed away peacefully at the Redstone Villa Nursing Home in St. Albans.
He was born Feb. 17, 1927 in Fairfax, son of the late Seymour and Lottie (Cherrier) Machia. He was the eldest of eight children. He married Grace Gillin June 21, 1947. Dalton and Grace lived and raised four children in native Fairfax before moving to St. Albans in 1996. Dalton was a graduate of Bellows Free Academy in Fairfax. He served in the armed forces in the US Army from 1945 to 1947. He worked 10 years as a plumber at Touchette and Shepard in St. Albans. He worked at IBM in Essex for 35 years.
After retirement he was able to enjoy his three "loves of life", family, music and sports. At this time of year he enjoyed sugaring in Buck Hollow and in summertime you could find him busy in the garden then in the fall back to the hollow for deer hunting. In recent, years, he had a woodworking hobby that he enjoyed. Dalton was a baseball catcher for BFA Fairfax during high school, was active in the community as a little league coach for many years and served on the school board in Fairfax. He was a dedicated member of the Fairfax Fletcher Westford Band, Shriners band, Enosburg town band and also played with other bands. He will be remembered for his love of music and his ability as a musician which in the family is considered a. "family tradition". Dalton clearly had a love for sports, playing, watching, coaching or even refereeing years ago. He was a Yankee baseball fan for sure.
Dalton will be deeply missed by his family and will always be forever in their hearts. The family will always cherish the memories shared including early memories of times in Buck Hollow, memories of "Camp" on Georgia shore, where he and Grace called home for the summertime and many gatherings at the house in Fairfax where friends and family would enjoy food, drink and always a laughter. Dalton is a former member of the Fairfax Methodist Church and a member of the St. Paul's Methodist Church in St. Albans.
He is survived by his wife s Grace of 63 years; his children and spouses, Roberta Machia, Mike and a Lorrie Machia, Tom and Mary Machia, Sara (Machia) and Hoyt Hurtubise; his grandchildren, Nathan and Catherine Boltz, Marty Machia, Charles Aaron and Zachary Machia, Michelle Ricketts, Matthew Dylan and Hanna Hurtubise; great-grandchildren, Ethan and Avery Boltz and Lennon Ricketts; his siblings and spouses, Meredith Gillilan, Jim and Mary Jane Machia, Joyce Allen, Bruce and Sandy Machia, Catherine Machia, Lois and Bert
Gillespie; sisters-in-law and spouses, Bette and Wendell Loso and Brenda and Alois Plattner; extended family, Mary Jean Karr and Clair Dunn, John and Mary Ellen Shaw; and many nieces and nephews. Dalton was also predeceased by a son, Charles "Chuck" Dalton Machia in 2003; brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Margaret Machia; brother, Allen "Pete" Machia: brothers-in-law, Cleon Gillilan, Richard Allen and Albert Parker.
Dalton's family would like to thank the staff at the Redstone Villa for all their wonderful care that Dalton received.
Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, March 20, 2011 from 2 to 4 p.m. at A.W. Rich Funeral Home - Fairfax Chapel. Funeral services will be held at the United Church of Fairfax on Monday, March 21, 2011 at 1 p.m. with the Revered ( Elizabeth Griffin officiating. Burial will follow at St. Luke's Cemetery at which time full Military honors will be accorded. Donations can be made in Dalton's memory to the Alzheimer's Foundation, 300 Corner Stone Drive Suite 128, Williston, VT 05495 or to the Redstone Villa Nursing Home, 7 Forest Hill Dr., St. Albans, VT 05478. Arrangements are by John D. Workman, 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
