Obituaries

Obituaries November 7, 2012

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Robert Castle

The Reverend Robert W. Castle Jr.

 Episcopal priest, coach, community organizer, storeowner, actor and lifelong champion for peace and justice, the Reverend Robert W. Castle Jr. died at home on Sunday, October 28, 2012.

“Bobby” was born on August 29, 1929, in Jersey City, New Jersey, the only child of Freda and Robert W. Castle.

Mr. Castle attended St. Lawrence University where he was named an all American quarterback.  He married Nancy Thomas in 1951.  He went on to attend divinity school at Berkeley/Yale in New Haven, Connecticut.

After divinity school, he became the rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Lincoln Park, New Jersey.  He led the community in the construction of a new church and established two other congregations in neighboring communities.

In 1960, he became rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Jersey City, New Jersey.  That year he was named one of the Top Outstanding Young Men in America.  Father Castle was active against the Vietnam War and for the civil rights movement at a community and national level throughout the 1960s, even connecting with members of the Black Panther Party.

In 1971, the Castle family moved to the old farmhouse and land on Mead Hill in Holland.  Mr. and Mrs. Castle opened the East Charleston Country Store while Mr. Castle served as rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Island Pond and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Newport.  Father Castle also coached football for many years at North Country Union High School and worked part-time for Northeast Kingdom Mental Health.

In 1983, Father Castle became director of Brookhaven Home for Boys in Chelsea for three years before returning to his urban roots when he moved to New York.  He served on the staff of Holy Trinity and provided outreach work for the Coalition for the Homeless.  He was called to serve as rector of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Harlem in 1987.

Father Castle married Kate Betsch in 1987.  The early 1990s were a time when “Bobby” was reacquainted with his cousin, director Jonathan Demme, who helped launch Father Castle’s movie career after completing the documentary Cousin Bobby.  He had a number of short appearances in films with most notable roles in Philadelphia and Rachel Getting Married.

Father Castle retired as a full-time priest in 2000 and returned to Mead Hill Farm in Holland to be close to his family and share the land and home with them and many others.  He stayed active by serving Christ Church in Stanstead, Quebec, and other area churches.  He also remained resolute in his convictions for peace and justice and faithful to protesting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Father Castle leaves behind his wife, Kate; his daughter Jane, her three children, and her husband, Norm Lanman; son Paul and his wife, Carol, and their three children; son John and his wife, Jill, and their two children; seven great-grandchildren; and stepchildren William and Emily Betsch.  He was predeceased by his son, Robert W. Castle III.

A memorial service will be held at Mead Hill Farm in Holland at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 10.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Mark’s Food Shelf at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 44 Second Street, Newport, Vermont 05855.

David Driver

David Errol Driver

 David Driver, 72, of Derby died peacefully on November 2, 2012, in Hanover, New Hampshire.

He was born in Newport, a son of Weldon and Marion Driver on January 10, 1940.

Mr. Driver farmed for many years, drove milk truck, worked for the town of Charleston and the town of Derby.

Working with horses was his passion.  He also loved to help people and spend time reminiscing.  He also enjoyed watching the motocross races located across the road on his and his wife’s property.

Mr. Driver is survived by his wife of 54 years, Lucille Driver; his son Darryl Driver and his wife, Lisa, of Jeffersonville; his son Dalton Driver and his friend, Wanda Lawrence, of Derby; his daughter Deanna Keenan and her husband, Scott, of Morgan; grandchildren:  Dena Driver and her friend, Todd Poirier, Deseray Driver and her friend, Jason Fleming, Alisha Byrd and her husband, Shawn, Michael Kelley and his wife, Alyssa, Ethan Driver and his wife, Chelsea, Adam Driver, Ashley Keenan and her friend, Chris Perry, Travis Driver, Jesse Keenan, and Jonathon Driver; great-grandchildren:  Orion Tarr, Erica Ducharme, Dakota Byrd, Daen Tarr, Logan Comer, Jordan Ducharme, Olida Byrd, Donny Keenan, Brooke Kelley, Veronica Driver, and Mya Fleming.  Mr. Driver also leaves behind his siblings:  Everett Driver and his wife, Linda, James Driver, Mary Green, and Albert Driver and his wife, Jean.

He was predeceased by his parents, Weldon and Marion Driver; his son Michael Neal Driver; and his brother Marc Driver.

Calling hours are Friday, November 9, at the Morgan Church from 6 to 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 10, at the Morgan Church at 1 p.m.

Condolences may be sent to:  Lucille Driver, 475 Fontaine Road, West Charleston, Vermont 05872.

Wayne Haney

Wayne E. Haney

 Wayne E. Haney, 86, of Manchester, New Hampshire, died on November 2, 2012, at Hillsborough Country Nursing Home, after a period of declining health.

Born in Newport on January 14, 1926, he was a son of Edward and Doris (Chamberlain) Haney.  He was raised in Newport.  Later, he resided in Stratham, New Hampshire, before moving to Manchester in 1996.

During World War II, he served with the United States Navy aboard the U.S.S. Pasadena. His tour of duty included the Asiatic Pacific Theater.

In his early years, he was a mechanic with B&M Railroad.  Until his retirement, he worked at Milliken Industries in Exeter, New Hampshire, for 15 years.

He was a member and deacon of the Adventist Church in Newport.

Mr. Haney will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather, whose family was the center of his life.  He was an avid reader of Navy and World War II stories.  He enjoyed building naval ship models as well as collecting stamps, coins, and old clocks.

Family members include his wife of 62 years, Jeannine (Demers) T. Haney of Manchester; four daughters, Mrs. Harry (Suzanne) Ntapalis of Manchester, Mrs. Philip (Cheryl) Bosch of Wolfboro, New Hampshire, Mrs. Frederick (Lisa) Cyr of Derry, New Hampshire, and Mrs. Kenneth (Lori) Sternberg of Barrington, New Hampshire; seven grandchildren:  Seth, Benjamin, Jillian, Ryan, Andrew, Peter, and Kady; and a sister, Patricia Kilpatrick, of Newport; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral was held Tuesday, November 6, at the Connor-Healy Funeral Home and Cremation Center with the Reverend Douglas Rickard officiating.

Burial with military honors will take place in the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, New Hampshire.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made the National Kidney Foundation, 85 Astor Ave., Suite 2, Norwood, Massachusetts 02062-5040.

For more information, or to view the online guest registry, please visit: www.connorhealy.com.

 

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