Ronald 'Joe' W. Chase

WEST STEWARTSTOWN – Ronald W. 'Joe' Chase, 86, of West Stewartstown, died peacefully at the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook early on Saturday morning, Nov. 26, 2022, surrounded by his loving family and after a period of declining health.
The youngest child of Frank Chase and Lena (Ripley) Chase Allen, Joe was born in West Stewartstown on March 5, 1936. A lifelong resident of West Stewartstown, he attended local schools and graduated from Canaan (VT) Memorial High School in 1955. Shortly after graduation, Joe enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Germany during the Cold War. As recently as just a few days before his death, he commented on how much he enjoyed his time overseas. After his active duty, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve and was honorably discharged in 1974 with the rank of Sergeant. He was very proud of his service to his country.
Upon his return from active military service, Joe worked as a mechanic for Roland Laperle and then for Adrien Thibeault before joining the family businesses, Washburn Lumber Company and later WeLog Inc., where he worked for a combined 37 years, retiring in 2003. He was well known for his ability to get machines up and running in difficult situations, a skill he passed on to his youngest son.
In 1959, at the Tall Timber dance hall in Pittsburg, NH, Joe met the love of his life, Dallas Washburn of Pittsburg. Near the end of his life, he could still tell you where she was sitting and what she was wearing that night when he first saw her. After a three-year courtship, they married on June 23, 1962. In June, 1963, they bought the "house by the dam" on Washington Street in West Stewartstown, where they raised their three sons and where Joe lived the rest of his life.
Joe was a long-time member of the Beecher Falls (VT) Volunteer Fire Department and a lifelong member of the NRA. In his younger years he enjoyed fishing, hunting, and spending time at his camp on Kemp Hill. An avid snowmobiler in the early days of the sport, when an ax, a compass, and a spare gas can were required equipment, he was a founder of the Canaan Border Riders Snowmobile Club. After retirement, Joe was well known for his daily coffee stops, "checking up" on his sons at work, and spending time at camp, by then relocated to Pittsburg. He very much enjoyed watching his grandchildren play sports and listening to them play music. He spent a lot of time in his woodworking shop making unique gifts for people, and he gave his grandson the tools that started his own interest in woodworking. Joe was always helping his family, whether it be mowing lawns, plowing snow, or just fixing stuff that broke. His knowledge and wisdom will be sorely missed.
In addition to his parents, Joe was predeceased by his stepfather George Allen, his brother Gordon, his sister Muriel, and his granddaughter Kellye.
Joe is survived and greatly missed by his loving wife of 60 years, Dallas; his sons and their wives, Warren and Kim of Pittsburg, Ward and Cindy of Dover, NH, and Troy and Nancy of Lyndonville, VT; his grandchildren, Marcus (Ashley), Logan (Jasmine), Travis (Jessica), Alexandra, Melissa, Mitchell (Manika), Erica, and Samuel; and his great-granddaughter Harper.
A brief service will be held at 10 AM on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at the Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook, NH. A private interment with military honors will follow at the Indian Stream Cemetery in Pittsburg.
Expressions of sympathy in memory of Mr. Chase may be made to the Beecher Falls Volunteer Fire Dept., P.O Box 326, Beecher Falls, VT 05902.
Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home.