R. Richard “Dick” Torrey, 81, of Waterbury Center passed away surrounded by his family on Wednesday January 16, 2013, following a brief illness. Born in Burlington on July 6, 1931, he was the son of the late Willis E. and Edna (Weidenbacker) Torrey. On June 27, 1954, Dick married the former Chandamarie “Chanda” Laplant in Waterbury.
Dick attended Richmond schools and then went on to continue work at his family’s dairy farm in Richmond. He later worked on a dairy farm in Shelburne before coming to Waterbury to operate the Laplant Farm on Loomis Hill in Waterbury Center.
In 1957, Dick started a new vocation when he began working for Steele’s Inc. in Waterbury, a plumbing, heating and propane business. There he became a well-known master plumber and LP technician throughout the greater central Vermont area, a career that spanned 36 years. Dick retired in 1993.
A longtime snowmobile enthusiast, Dick was active with both the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers and the Stowe Snowmobile Club where he spent many hours throughout the year maintaining and developing trails.
Dick’s family lovingly remembers him for his devotion to his family and the pride he took in attending his children’s and later his grandchildren’s sporting events. He took great joy in vegetable gardening and was known for his garlic. He was an avid Celtics fan and in his spare time he enjoyed tinkering on and restoring his antique tractors. He and Chanda also enjoyed traveling, particularly their trip across the United States three years ago.
Dick is survived by his wife of 58 years, Chanda Torrey of Waterbury Center; their children, Tona Bombard and her husband Kevin of Fayston, Tina Mandigo and her husband Paul of Stowe, Tela Torrey and her companion Brad Sabin of Waterbury, and Tim Torrey and his wife Kate of Johnson; two grandchildren, Chelsea Mandigo and her companion Matt Wolfer and Torrey Mandigo and his companion Chelsea Thompson; his cat, “Miss Kitty”; as well as several nieces, nephews and extended family. Dick was predeceased by four brothers and two sisters.
At Dick’s request, private family services will be held.
For those who wish, memorial gifts would be appreciated to the Waterbury Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 95, Waterbury Center, VT 05677. Assisting the family is the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send online condolences please visit www.perkinsparker.com and Facebook.
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