Henry Willis Estes

Post Mills, VT-Henry Willis "Pete" Estes, born January 29, 1930, son of William Oren and Hilda Henrietta (Hartson) Estes, died peacefully at his home in Post Mills, VT on March 17, 2016 following a lengthy illness. Following his graduation from Thetford Academy in 1948, Henry enlisted in the United States Air Force and became a communications specialist. During his service he was stationed in the United States and abroad in Japan, The Philippine Islands, Korea, and Greenland. He was appreciative of the skills he learned, the honor to serve and the opportunity to travel. At discharge, he held the rank of Staff Sergeant. Upon returning from his military service he honed these skills by apprenticing for master electrician Reggie Davis. In 1954 Henry married his high school sweetheart, Verna Lillian Aldrich. They were married for 59 years. Together with the help of family and friends they built their home near Lake Fairlee. There, in a truly beautiful Vermont setting, they raised their family. Henry was a hardworking man who enjoyed being busy. He was a rural route letter carrier, a licensed electrician and a maple sugar producer. After working for the postal service for thirtythree years, he retired to devote more time to his electrical business, sugaring, snow plowing, and care taking of properties. He still found time to do the activities he loved to do. Henry enjoyed making maple syrup, gardening, watching Red Sox baseball, playing golf, hunting, fishing, swimming, snowmobiling, traveling, playing cribbage, throwing horse shoes, solving sudoku puzzles, baking bean hole beans, reading, doing jigsaw puzzles, dowsing, watching birds, enticing chipmunks to eat from his hand, hiking and hunting with his dogs, cooking and eating. As a faithful member of the Post Mills Congregational Church, he served on several boards, including the Board of Deacons and Board of Property and was Church Moderator for seventeen years. Henry was very involved with the fund raising projects at the church. He was especially proud of the church barbeque and his renowned bean hole beans. Henry believed in giving to his community. He served on the Thetford Zoning Board, coached basketball at Thetford Elementary School and Babe Ruth baseball. Playing the role of Santa for the children of Post Mills brought him great joy. He was a member of the Jackson Lodge #60 of Free and Accepted Masons where he twice held the office of master. He also was a member of the Lake Fairlee Chapter of the Eastern Star holding the office of Worthy Patron. Henry was a devoted son, husband, father and grandfather who gave much of his love and care to his family. He was predeceased by his wife, Verna in 2014. He is survived by his brother William O. Estes and his wife Waneta of Floral City, FL, his sister Sally Mason of Licking, MO, son Mark and his wife, Dianne of West Lebanon, NH, his son Peter and his wife, Cathy of Post Mills, his daughter Cathy Roberts, and her husband, Joseph of Post Mills his 4 grandchildren, Tyler Estes, Caitlin Roberts, Logan Estes and Sarah Roberts. A Memorial Service will be held at the Post Mills Congregational Church on Wednesday, March 23,2016 at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. Heidi Hoskin officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Post Mills Congregational Church, PO Box 14 Post Mills, VT 05058. Arrangements are by the Hale Funeral Homes and Cremation Care of Bradford and Thetford, VT. Online guestbook at www.halefuneralhomes.com

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