Birth June 7, 1942
Burlington, VT
Death Dec. 21, 2024
Richmond, VT
Details of service
Calling Hours will be Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, 5-7 p.m. followed by a Celebration of Life Service Jan. 11, at 11 a.m., both will be held at Richmond Congregational Church.
Wendall Anson Dwire passed away at home on Dec. 21, 2024, with family by his side. Born and raised in Richmond, VT, he lived in and served this community his entire life, leaving a legacy of hard work, dedication, and love.
Wendall graduated from Richmond High School in 1960 and joined the Army, actively serving in the Vermont National Guard. Upon his release, he returned to Richmond to work cutting meat at Powell’s Market and to help Powell’s widow run the store. Some of his earliest jobs as a youth were helping unload grain at the train station, picking fiddleheads, or working at the meat counter at the local market where he’d learned the trade of custom cut meat butchering that would serve him well over the years.
In 1967, he went to work for Green Mountain Power, then the Burlington Electric Company at the Moran Plant, servicing turbines and eventually serving as shift supervisor at the McNeil Generating Station. Upon retiring, he returned to his roots owning the Richmond Corner Market for 10 years and finishing his career at Price Chopper in the custom cut meat department.
Wendall was a kind and gentle man who loved being a part of the Richmond community. He met the love of his life, Sharon Burnett Dwire, in grade school and they went on to marry in 1964 and raise a family there. He was a hardworking, dedicated and loving husband and dad, often working a full day only to then come home to cook dinner and put the kids to bed while his wife worked evenings at the local doctor’s office. He was a big teddy bear and loved his kids and grandchildren more than anything. His big, warm hugs were known to rock even the most colicky baby to sleep in seconds. And, as his grandchildren grew, he was ever the proud grandpa who thrived on being able to attend sporting or school events to cheer them on. Wendall also loved holidays and gathering with his family. He was an avid reader and sports and history buff who could rattle off dates, events, and details like no other. Even as his body began to falter, he kept his mind active and his faith strong, which served him well through the final challenges he faced.
Wendall liked to reminisce about his youth and how he had seen the town of Richmond grow and change over the years. He told many a story of riding a milk delivery truck and helping with the delivery in order to hitch a ride to his grandparents farm on Beane Road in Huntington. He truly loved being a part of this community.
And as his health began to fail he made many new friends through the UVM cardiac rehabilitation program and loved driving his truck ‘Big Red’ to his weekly sessions and joining the ranks for coffee after their early morning workouts.
His family extends gratitude to all those who helped care for Wendall, including UVMMC Home Health and Hospice, UVMMC cardiology, and a cadre of caregivers fulfilling his wish to age in place at home with Sharon.
Wendall is survived by his wife of 60 years, Sharon Burnett Dwire, his three children Julie (Bill) Eschholz, Richmond, VT, Amy (Jon) Jamieson, Waitsfield, VT, Steven (Jenn) Dwire, Albany, NY, and 6 grandchildren, Madlyn, Alec, Isabel, Anna, Megan, and Kelsey. He was predeceased by his sister Sandy Bourgeois (Claude) and is survived by his sister Bonnie Humphrey (Bruce) of Waterbury Center.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Richmond Rescue (216 Railroad Street, Richmond, VT 05477) or Shriners Children’s (2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607).
To share a memory about Wendall please visit here.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Wendall Dwire.