Everett Benson

BARNARD--Everett Ellis Benson, 93, died Wednesday, April 18, 2007, at Gifford Medical Center in Randolph.

He was born September 9, 1913, in Franklin, N.H., the son of Ray and Jessie (Ellis) Benson. His family moved from New Hampshire to Vermont when he was very young. He attended school in South Royalton and graduated from South Royalton High School class of 1930.

He then went to work for his father at the Chevrolet dealership in Bethel. While he was there, his father bought some large trucks and started Everett in his life-long career as a truck driver. Along with working at the dealership, he hauled gravel and construction materials. It was during this time that construction on Route 110 began and his part-time work became more of a full-time job. He was a hard worker and loved to be behind the wheel.

On September 29, 1937, he married Marjorie E. Roberts. During World War II, he delivered plywood from the Fyles & Rice Veneer Mill in Bethel to New York City and would then return with a load of coal. His connection with the mill landed him a full-time job in the shipping department. Later, when the mill sold off their trucks, he drove for John Kilborn.

In early 1960s, when he was between jobs, he drove school bus for South Royalton School. A couple of years later, he went to work for Rossi Trucking in Barre. He was here that he held his longest employment, driving and later training younger drivers. At the age of 82, he was still passing the required physical needed to keep his commercial driver's license. He drove for Rossi for nearly 32 years, retiring in 1995 so he could stay home and care for his ailing wife.

Since he spent so much time working, he had little time for hobbies. Any free time he did find, he filled with mechanical projects he could work on at home. He enjoyed music and loved family gatherings.

He was predeceased by his wife, Marjorie, who died December 25, 2001; a daughter, Nancy Benson DeCoff; a granddaughter, Lisa Benson; a great-grandson, Zachary Rikert; a sister, Mildred Campbell; and two brothers, George Benson and Robert Benson.

Survivors include his two sons, Ronald Benson of South Royalton and Barry Benson of Randolph Center; a daughter, Marilyn Hayward of South Royalton; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; a brother, Wallace Benson of California; and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service was held Sunday, April 22, at the Silver Lake Chapel in Barnard, with Rev. Ronald Rilling officiating and Judie Lewis as the organist. Bearers were Larry Trottier, Craig Gardener, Paul Bengston, John Moniz, Bruce Benson, and Erastus Tabor. Burial was in the Branch View Cemetery in South Royalton. Following the funeral service, there was a time of fellowship and refreshments at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society, P.O. Box 306, South Woodstock, Vt., 05071. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Boardway & Cilley Funeral Home of Chelsea.