Richard A. Whitcomb, Sr.

Richard Allen Whitcomb, Sr, 73, of Derby, VT passed away on April 14, 2015 in Newport, VT. He was born on December 28, 1941 in St. Johnsbury, VT to Myrle Davis Woodmansee and the late Urban Whitcomb. He received his GED in June of 1988. He married Barbara Jean (Villeneuve) Whitcomb who predeceased him on October 7, 2007.Richard was a Block Guard for the Orleans County Sherriff?s Department. He retired from the Vermont Army National Guard and obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He also was employed at one time at American Maple, Hoods Creamery, farming, Moss Trucking, and he was a truck and long time bus driver. Among his hobbies, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and bowling where he held the league high score of 297, (a near perfect game!) He also enjoyed boating, working on cars, and enjoyed the company of his dog ?Crystal?. He was a practical joker, an avid bowler and softball champion, his CB radio handle was ?Candyman? and he also loved to snowmobile, play horseshoes, fishing, attending his son?s Mark Shelton?s concerts, going on cruise vacations with Theresa and his favorite NASCAR driver is Dale Earnhardt, Sr. and Jr. He loved he many dogs he had in his life. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.He is survived by his children: Richard Whitcomb, Jr. of Salem, CT, Karen Whitcomb and James Trent of NC, and David Whitcomb and his girlfriend Lisa Hastings of Norwich, CT. He is also survived by many grandchildren including, Barry, Johna, Mykhaila, Brandon, Adam, Vanessa, Meagan, Miranda, David, Jr, Dyllan, and great grandchildren, his mother Myrle Leithead of Lyndonville, VT; by his step son: Mark Shelton and his wife Lisa of Derby, VT, by his fiancé Theresa Bowen of Derby, VT; and by her children: John Roy and his wife Diane of Holland, VT, Debbie Grow and her husband Dan of Enosburg, VT, Robin Nolan and his wife Christina of Derby, VT, and Angel Girard and her husband Eric of Derby, VT. He is also survived by his brother Bernard Whitcomb of CA, his sisters Janet Fenoff and Jean Peck both of FL, and his half brothers and sister: Gary Fenoff of ST. Johnsbury, VT, Billy Whitcomb of Jay, VT, and Judy Lamont of FL, and by numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his baby girl Villeneuve in 1961, Baby Boy Whitcomb in 1965 and Barbara Jean Marie Whitcomb in 1978. He was also predeceased by his brother Walter Whitcomb.Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday April 17, 2015 at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home, 4670 Darling Hill Road, Newport with the Rev. John Genco officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday April 17, 2015 from 1:00 P.M. until the hour of the funeral. Military honors will be held following the service at the funeral home. Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the Pope Frontier Memorial Animal Society, 502 Strawberry Acres, Newport, VT 05855 or to the American Cancer Society, Vermont Division, Inc, 55 Day Lane, Williston, VT 05495. On-line condolences at curtis-britch.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home, locally family owned and operated.