Robert Arnold Dahms Jr.

DAHMS, Robert Arnold, Jr. Robert Arnold Dahms, Jr. died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, (March 30, 2005) after a valiant fight with cancer. He was born in Windsor, VT on March 27, 1931, the son of Robert Arnold and Isabelle Wetherby Dahms. Robert grew up in Claremont, NH, graduating from Stevens High School. He served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict. He graduated from Northeastern University with a B.S. in Business Administration. Following graduation he entered the Executive Training Program for Sears, Roebuck and Company, starting the program in Bangor, ME. This began a life-long love for the State of Maine and its people. He was assigned there in several locations, and after leaving returned semi-annually for fishing trips and love of the area. He came to Connecticut in 1975, as manager of the Orange store, and in 1979, was assigned to be the manager to close the West Springfield, MA, store and open the store at Ingleside Mall in Holyoke, MA. He retired as manager of the Holyoke store in 1989. He and Alice Arms Estey were married in The First Congregational Church in Springfield, VT on August 28, 1954. They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with their family. All of his life he loved the out-doors, hunting, fishing and boating. He enjoyed his home and was happy to be there with his family, participating in the activities of his children and grandchildren. He particularly looked forward to his fishing trips to Maine with his cherished friends of many years. It was almost irrelevant whether they caught fish or not. He was a member of The First Church of Christ Congregational in Suffield, The Suffield Sportsman's Association, Hiram Masonic Lodge No 9 of Claremont, NH and the National Rifle Association. Besides his wife, he leaves three children, Laura and her husband, James Adams of Old Hickory, TN, Beth and her husband Byron Bailey of Suffield, and Robert Ill of Arlington, VA; two grandsons, Daniel and Benjamin Bailey of Suffield; a brother-in-law, Edward Purington; and two nieces, Betty Jane Johnson and Susan Mae Smith of Colrain, MA. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by a sister, Evelyn Purington of Colrain, MA. Memorial Funeral Services will be Tues., April 5, at the First Church of Christ Congregational, 81 High St., Suffield, at 2 p.m. Burial will be in Summer Hill Cemetery, Springfield, VT later in the spring. Friends may call at the Heritage Funeral Home, 1240 Mountain Rd., West Suffield, on Mon., April 4, from 6-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The First Church of Christ Congregational, The Suffield Visiting Nurses Association, 450 South St., Suffield; or The Suffield Ambulance Assoc., 162 Mountain Rd.