Robert M. Borg; Chemical Co. President
PETERSHAM — Robert M. Borg, 89, of Ossipee, N.H. and Ocala, Fla., and formerly of Petersham and Suffield, Conn., passed away March 29, 2000.
He was born in Smithfield, Penn. and graduated from Petersham High School in 1928. He attended the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse and worked for several years at the Harvard Forest in Petersham, the same town in which he courted and later married his late wife of 58 years, the former Lillian H. Pilling, of Athol.
He worked as an assistant forester under the Civilian Conservation Corp., a technical forester for the United States Forest Service and was supervisor of Wildlife Management for the state of Massachusetts, before attending the University of Chicago where he graduated with a masters in ecology in 1939.
Upon graduation he worked as an assistant district agent for the Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States Department of the Interior until he joined the Dow Chemical Company as a fumigant specialist developing procedures for low temperature fumigation.
He founded Borg & Co. in 1947, at what is now a memorial forest in Ossipee. The company was later incorporated as Borg Pesticides, Inc. in Suffield, Conn. and specialized in soil and space fumigation throughout New England. He remained as president until his retirement in 1971.
He was a 58 year member of the Star Lodge of Athol. He received the Boy Scout District Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver Award as Council Vice President while he resided in Suffield.
He was also active in the Congregational Church and was the Suffield Town Forest Commissioner.
He is survived by his sister, Elenore E. Borg of Granby, Conn. and formerly of Barre; a brother, Axel F. Borg of Falmouth; and his loving children and their families, Harrison and Sally Picard of East Granby and daughter, Sarah E. Picard of Millbrook, N.Y.; Robert and Anne Borg and their sons, Seth and Austin Borg, all of Suffield.
A memorial service will be held at the Granby Pentecostal Tabernacle (The Life Church), 23 Griffin Rd., Granby, Sunday, April 9 at 1:30 p.m.
The family will greet friends prior to the service beginning at 1 p.m. at the church.
At 6 p.m. a service will be conducted by the Star - Athol Masonic Lodge at the Silver Lake Cemetery in Athol.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Boy Scout Troop 66, c/o Scout Master, 48 Lebria Rd., West Suffield, Conn. 06093 or For God's Work c/o Granby Pentecostal Tabernacle, 23 Griffin Rd., Granby, Conn. 06035.
The Hayes - Huling and Carmen Funeral Home of Granby, Conn. is handling arrangements.
Phyllis M. Arnold; Home Maker
Phyllis M. (Goodwin) Arnold, 80, of 50 Day St., Fitchburg, and formerly of Athol, died Tuesday, April 11, 2000, at her daughter's house in Crystal River, Fla., under the loving care of her family and hospice.
She leaves three sons, Douglas Arnold of Franklin, N.C., Ethan Arnold of Gardner, Scott Arnold of Leominster; three daughters, Darleen Blood of Norwood, Joyce Mikell of Crystal River, Sharon White of Claremont, N.H.; two brothers, Norman Goodwin of Washington, D.C., Robert Goodwin of Mt. Airy, N.C.; two sisters, Gloria Boblin of Orange, Marylin Cummings of Athol; 25 grandchildren, 41 great - grandchildren and many nephews and nieces.
She was predeceased by her husband of 44 years, Ronald C. Arnold, who died in 1984, a son, Lynwood Arnold, who died in 1979 and an infant son, Ronald Arnold, who died in 1941.
She was born in Athol on Jan. 21, 1920 the daughter of Leslie and Pearl (Adams) Goodwin. She was a homemaker. She became best friends with two of her cousins, Laura Sadie Covey and Mae Gagnon, their friendship was treasured all of her life.
Phyllis was a woman who was greatly loved by all who knew her and her smiling face will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be held Friday, April 14, at 2 p.m. in the Fiske Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery, Templeton.
A calling hour will be held Friday, April 14 from 1 to 2 p.m. in the funeral home.
Watts Services
Funeral services for Dale W. Watts, 40, of 75 Farnsworth Ave., were held Wednesday, April 12, 2000, in the Fiske Funeral Home with Rev. Mark Bariloni, pastor of the Athol - Orange Baptist Church, officiating. Burial was in Silver Lake Cemetery.
The active bearers were Jeremy Thorp, Kent Roussel, Pat Murphy, Tim Murphy, Jeffrey Cooke and Jermiah Burton. The honorary bearers were, Nick Burton, Robert Kennedy and Michael Gebo.
Fiske Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Elizabeth S. Gouslin
WINCHENDON - Elizabeth S. "Betty" (May) Gouslin, 91, formerly of 670 River St., died Thursday, April 13, 2000 in Wachusett Manor Nursing Home, Gardner, after a long illness.
Among her survivors is a daughter, Mary P. DeMaura, of Phillipston.
Edward Porter Jr.; Managed Homeless Shelter
ORANGE - Edward "Duke" Porter, 67, of 9 Columbia Ave., died Wednesday, April 12, 2000, in Veterans Medical Center, White River Junction, Vt.
Born in Orange, Oct. 5, 1932, a son of Edward and Doris J. (Anderson) Porter Sr., he grew up here and attended Orange schools.
While at Orange High School, he was a member of the football team.
He served with the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict as a gunners mate on board the destroyer, USS Barton. After his discharge from the service, he worked at the former Minute Tapioca Co., later moving to Hartsville, Tenn. and Coldswater, Mich., where he managed a homeless shelter and mission site.
He returned to Orange in the mid eighties. An enthusiastic traveler, he also enjoyed playing cribbage, railroad pitch and chess. He was a member of the American Legion Post 172, the Orange Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and the American Lithuanian Naturalization Club, Athol.
He leaves a sister, Nancy and husband, Jim Vorce of Orange; an uncle, Arthur Porter of Claremont, N.H.; an aunt, Virginia Gerard of Phoenix, Ariz.; a niece, Deb Piragis of Athol; a nephew, Jay Vorce of Orange; several cousins, great nephews and nieces.
Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers contributions are suggested to the Orange High School Alumni Assoc., in care of Jean Lundgren, 37 Dexter St., Orange, Mass. 01364 or the Hospice in Franklin County, 164 High St., Greenfield, Mass. 01301.
Brubaker, 75 Years In Masonry
ORANGE - Cyril E. "Bud" Brubaker, 96, of 323 North Main St., died Saturday, April 15, 2000 in Quabbin Valley Healthcare, Athol.
Born in Lebanon, Pa., Sept. 25, 1903, a son of Jonathan and Lydia Brubaker, he moved to Orange in 1926.
He served in the United States Navy as a coxswain on the USS Maryland three years until his discharge in 1923.
Active in Freemasonry for 75 years, he was raised at the Roseville Lodge 143, in Newark, N.J., Dec. 14, 1925.
He affiliated with the Orange Lodge of Masons A.F.& A.M. in 1927. His numerous offices and awards during his masonic career included, past master of Orange lodge, past district deputy grand master of Barre 13th masonic district, past high priest, crescent chapter, Royal Arch Masons, Orange, past district deputy grand high priest of 6th Capitular District, past grand king of Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Massachusetts, past illustrious master of Titus Strong Council, Greenfield, past commander of Orange Commandery 45, past most wise master of Greenfield Chapter Rose of Croix, past puissant sovereign of St. Matthew Conclave Red Cross of Constantine.
Masonic memberships include, Connecticut Valley Consistory 32, Springfield, Athena Chapter 25 Order of Eastern Star, Barre 13th District Past Masters, Melha Temple Shrine, Springfield, Past Masters of Melha, Massachusetts Priory 52, Boston, Missouri Lodge of Research, past treasurer of Massachusetts Chapter of Research, Massachusetts Council of Thrice Illustrious Masters, Massachusetts Convention of High Priests and Franklin Shrine Club and Demolay Uncle.
He was awarded a 50 - year medal in both Grand Lodge of Mass. and Grand Royal Arch Lodge of Massachusetts, Meritorious Service Award in Scottish Rite, The Blue Forget Me Not, Benjamin Hurd Award, Joseph Warren medal and certificate of merit from grand commandery in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
He was founder and long time editor of the Orange Masonic Newsletter, former chaplain of the Orange Lodge and Starrett Craftsmen Degree Team.
Active for many years in First Universalist Church, he was a former teacher and superintendent of its Sunday school, past president of the men's club, past chair of the board of management, former moderator and head usher. A licensed lay preacher, he preached in Unitarian, Universalist, Congregational, Methodist and Baptist Churches.
A writer, he was the author of, "I've Been Thinking," and co - author of "Victorious Perseverance."
He worker at the L.S. Starrett Company for many years and at the time of his retirement in 1962 he was foreman of the grinding room.
Among his hobbies were stonework, stamp and coin collecting.
His wife of 75 years, Ora E. (Deane) Brubaker, died Oct. 15, 1999 and his son, James Brubaker, died in 1934.
He leaves a daughter, Adele Madsen, and son - in - law, Douglas Madsen both of Orange; three granddaughters, Adele O. Mehr of Orange, Lydia Gibb of Winstead, Conn. and Rebecca Robinson of Charlton; six great - grandsons; five step - grandchildren and four step great - grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, April 20 at 2 p.m. in the First Universalist Church, 31 North Main St.
Private burial will be held at the convenience of the family in South Cemetery.
There are no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers contributions are suggested to the First Universalist Church Building Fund, 31 North Main St., or Orange Masonic Lodge, East Main Street, both Orange, Mass. 01364.
Arnold Services
FITCHBURG - Funeral services for Phyllis M. (Goodwin) Arnold, 80, of 50 Day St. were held Friday, April 14, 2000, in the Fiske Funeral Home with Rev. Peter Temple officiating. Burial was in Pine Grove Cemetery, Templeton.
The bearers were Christo Sardelis, Jr., Keith Arnold, Andrew White, Joshua Blood, Richard Blood and Nathan Arnold.
Fiske Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Orient J. Bessette
LEOMINSTER - Orient J. "Aure" Bessette, 79, of 425 Prospect St., a retired forestry department worker, died Thursday, April 13, 2000 in the Keystone Center after an illness.
Among his survivors in a daughter, Ellen Cormier of Phillipston.
He was a Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War.
Mary Edith Cross
DANVERS - Mary Edith (Perkins) Cross, 89, of Danvers, died Thursday, April 13, 2000 in the Harborside Cedar Glen Nursing Home.
Among her survivors is a son, Donald R. Cross, of Petersham.
