Frances (Strobridge) Walker of Richmond and Cabot, died at
home on March 3, 2014. Frances was born on Sept. 5, 1919,
in St. Johnsbury, the youngest child of Frank Edwin and Ruth
Annette (Hoyt) Strobridge. She grew up in West Barnet,
attended Peacham Academy, graduated from St. Johnsbury
Academy and attended Grove City College in Pennsylvania.
She married William Chester Walker III on Aug. 19, 1941, and
they were together 55 years until his death in 1996. They
farmed in various ways throughout their lives, beginning as
dairy farmers, moving to raising rabbits and retiring to
blueberries and daffodils, which Fran continued after his death with the support
of her daughter, Annie, and son-in-law, Les. She was proud of and enjoyed her
work as a legal secretary, especially the years spent in the small legal practice
of John Downs and Robert Rachlin in St. Johnsbury. She retired from the
position of Administrative Assistant in the office of the Colchester Town
Manager. She was a life long student of spirituality and for many years was
active in Edgar Cayce studies and the A.R.E. She was a dedicated, active church
member, most recently in the Richmond Congregational Church. She was very
proud and happy when some of the farmland in Cabot was purchased for the
establishment of Covenant Hills Christian Camp. She was active in community
and political causes and never hesitated to offer her opinions and insights. She
greatly enjoyed listening to WDEV radio station. She always saw it as an
interactive medium. She enjoyed the "Bird Boys", the Mark Johnson show
where she often called to express her opinion on the topic of the day, and
especially Brian Harwood. On the day she left us, she sent him a letter
expressing her dismay at the halting of the Central Park Horse Drawn Carriage
Rides. Her infant son, Dennis Warren Walker; and her beloved sister, Dorothy
Strobridge Stewart, also predeceased her. She is survived by her son, Edwin
Chester (Anne) Walker of Sun City, Fla., and their children, Todd (Carin)
Walker, Kaitlyn Walker, Brett (Lisa) Walker and Amy Chadbourne; her
daughters, Connie Norona of Williston and her children, Nicole Norona and
Charles Norona, and Annette (Les) Parker of South Burlington. Her treasured
great-grandchildren, Noah, Isaac and Isabelle Walker, and Kelsey and Evan
Chadbourne also survive her. She leaves a brother-in-law, Roger Walker; a
sister-in-law, Susan Walker Haskell; and many nieces and nephews that held a
special place in her life. She gathered many friends who enriched her life and
treasured the caregivers who helped her stay at home this past year. The
Sunday service at Richmond Congregational Church on March 16, 2014, at 10
a.m., will be dedicated to her memory. Following the service there will be a
gathering at the church with a light lunch for friends and family to spend time
together. A burial service is planned for Memorial Day weekend at the Cabot
Plains Cemetery in Cabot. In place of flowers, donations can be made to the
Covenant Hills Christian Camp, c/o Ashley and Jeffery Dodson, 246 Covenant
Hills Rd., Cabot, VT 05647
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