Richard James Atwood, 61, of Riverton, passed unexpectedly January 27, 2009, at the Gifford Medical Center in Randolph.
Born in Montpelier on March 10, 1947, he is the son of Everett and Iola (Bruce) Atwood of Duxbury.
A member of the very last graduating class of Waterbury High School, he joined the Army Reserve soon after and served for six years. A longtime employee of IBM in Essex Junction, he was also an auctioneer for close to 40 years and owned many rental properties in Central Vermont.
He loved adventures and traveling, was always thinking about the next place, the next deal, and the next auction. He loved riding motorcycles and snow machines, in fact, anything fast. He loved skiing, antiques, and dancing. His most recent project was a family recipe cookbook in honor of his mother's 88th birthday, a project not possible without the help of his best friend, Cathy Deslaurier, affectionately known as Number 9.
His memberships included the American Legion Harry N Cutting Post #59, the Northeast Fiddlers, the Elks' Club, the Canadian Club, and the Auctioneers' Association.
Richard is survived by his parents, Everett and Iola Atwood of Duxbury; three daughters, Amy Nelson and her husband Jimmy of Waterbury, Tammy Rost and her husband Winston of Duxbury, and Vicky Atwood and her partner Wayne Thurston of Wolcott; his three grandchildren, Dexter Thurston, Morgan Nelson, and Owen Thurston; his former wife Lois Atwood; and many special nieces and nephews.
He leaves behind four siblings, Steve Atwood and his wife Rae of Essex Junction, Patty Sherman and her husband Stub of Duxbury, Raymond and his companion Tanya Johns of Bradford, and Angela and her husband Bob Zwonik of Colchester. He is predeceased by his brother Douglas Frank Atwood.
Richard touched many lives in his time on this planet. Among those are his beloved German shepherds "Tiller" and "Jonesy," his longtime friend Linda Emery, and, most recently, his loving companion Jill Montgomery of Braintree, VT.
Memorial services were held from the Wesley United Methodist Church in Waterbury on Saturday, January 31, 2009, at 11 a.m. A reception followed at the Waterbury American Legion Home on Stowe Street.
Inurnment will take place this spring in the Waterbury Center Cemetery.
The family requests that flowers be omitted; rather memorial gifts would be appreciated to the Central Vermont Humane Society (802-476-3811), P.O. Box 687, Montpelier, VT 05601.
To send online condolences visit www.perkinsparker.com. Assisting the family is the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury.
