Robert Edmands

1929 - 2024

Robert Edmands

Fairlee, VT - Robert Stanley Edmands, 95, died November 28, 2024 at his home on Route 5. His parents were Earle Stanley Edmands and Edna Katherine Edmands (George). Born in Gardner, Massachusetts, he was descended from an original settler of Fairlee. Soon after his birth, his parents returned to Vermont, first to farm in North Thetford, then to the George/Smith family farm in Fairlee. Robert attended elementary school in Fairlee through eighth grade and graduated from Bradford Academy in 1948, and from the Vermont School of Agriculture in 1949. He met his future wife, Eunice Dailey of North Thetford, on a blind date at a dance. They wed on June 6, 1954, and were married for 63 years, raising a lot of corn and several children, including foster children, and having fun dancing, playing cards with friends, traveling, and camping.

In the early 70's, he left farming to work full-time for L.H. Cook of Norwich, driving school bus and operating trucks and other equipment. He also was a water systems operator for the Town of Norwich for 35 years until 2017, and a handyman for the town of Fairlee for almost two decades, reluctantly retiring in his early 90's.

Robert was a kind, thoughtful man with a dry sense of humor, an encyclopedic knowledge of local history, and a love of trains and birds. He also had a very strong sense of civic duty, serving 47 years as a volunteer firefighter, several years as a F.A.S.T. squad member, and on the Fairlee School Board and Cemetery Commission. In 2016 he received a Vermont Public Service Award in recognition of 47 years of service to the county and state, and in 2019 he was named a Super Senior by WCAX.

Robert was predeceased by his wife Eunice, his parents, his sister Helen Piper (Edmands), and his brothers-in-law Lawrence (Stub) Piper, Eugene Dailey, Frank Dailey and Phil Hodge; his sister-in-law Doris Hodge (Dailey); and by one son, Robert Arthur Edmands, and a stillborn daughter. He is survived by two daughters: Debra Edmands of Fairlee and Brenda Edmands (Michael Lancaster) of Westbrook, ME; two sons: Stanley Edmands (Cathy Keller Edmands) of Ravenel, SC and Richard Slocum of Burlington, VT; a daughter-in-law, Laura Edmands (Gilbert) of Hudson, NH, and bonus son John Clough of Bradford, VT; grandchildren: Jason Clough (Dara) of North Kingston, RI, Jennifer Fromme (Tim) of Cromwell, CT, Christopher Edmands (Amy Delescluse) of Hudson, NH, Matthew Edmands (Sarah) of Hudson, NH, and bonus grandchildren Toren Elsen (Jennifer Morris) of Aiken, SC, and Violet Lancaster and Dylan Lancaster of South Portland and Westbrook, ME; great-grandchildren: Leah Delescluse, Isabelle Fromme, Camdyn Clough, Logan Edmands, Ava Fromme, and Hayden Clough; his sister-in-law Anna Dailey of Holderness, NH; and by many loving nieces and nephews and a number of cousins.

A memorial service will be held at the Fairlee Community Church on January 17, 2025 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Fairlee Firefighters in Robert's name.

Arrangements are in the care of Hale Funeral Home, 187 Upper Plain Bradford Vt.

Those wishing to express online condolences may do so at: www.halefuneralhomes.com