Roderick Joseph Lyons

Roderick Joseph Lyons, passed away in the late hours of March 9, 2024. A winter weather advisory was in effect - something Rod would have wanted all of you to know. Born in Colchester, VT, on October 30, 1950, to Joseph and Mildred Lyons, Roderick brought joy and warmth to all who knew him. He leaves behind the greatest legacy that any of us could hope for - the simple fact of being kind to everyone he met.
 
In his professional life, Roderick worked over 25 years at Belden Wire and Cable. But Rod’s true passion for work came in the form of tinkering on cars and solving every day problems with his Rube Goldberg-level contraptions. Rod felt the same way about humanity that he felt about the cars that he worked on - that they were never so broken that they couldn’t be fixed with the right amount of love, dedication, and kindness.
 
Rod served proudly in the Army during the Vietnam War and was stationed in both Texas and Germany. He served over 15 years in the Vermont National Guard. Rod remembered his service fondly, and frequently discussed his wish to have done even more to have served his country.
 
Rod enjoyed capturing the simple beauty of the universe in any way that he could. Whether through poetry, music, photography, or an impromptu oral history recording, Rod was consistently inspired by life. The consummate adventurer, Rod would  "get lost" during car rides despite always knowing the way—a reflection of his playful nature and sense of humor.

 Rod was kind to everyone. He truly judged no one. He spoke out emotionally against bullying of any kind. He loved each and every one of his grandchildren in a way that the world sometimes does not, and he did so to celebrate their differences, not in spite of them.

 Roderick is preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Mildred Lyons, as well as siblings Millicent Lyons, Dale Lyons, and Richard Lyons. He is survived by his three daughters: Amy Arcuri (and her husband Fred), Sarah Lyons, Susan Post (and her husband Charles) and their mother Deborah Sweeney, along with six grandchildren: Julian, Antonio, Claire, Isaac, Reese, and Lincoln. He is also survived by siblings Gloria Simpson (and her companion Kurt), Prescott Lyons (and his wife Cindy), and Cammie Lyons, his uncle Peter Pratt and his wife Judy, and his aunt Mary Arel and her husband Alfred, and numerous nieces and nephews. 
 
A visitation to honor Roderick's life will take place on March 17, 2PM-4PM at Minor Funeral and Cremation Center in Milton, VT. Though we mourn the loss of Roderick Joseph Lyons deeply, let us celebrate the profound impact he had on those around him—a legacy of love that will endure for generations to come.