Arnold Williams

RUTLAND      Arnold Walter Williams, 82, passed peacefully on April 3, 2024, in his home surrounded by family.

He was born April 26, 1941, in Londonderry, Vermont, the son of Cressy I. and Jessie (Rand) Williams. He attended Marion Gibson Grover Elementary School in Londonderry and graduated from Chester High School in 1960. He married Sherry Lane in 1960 and they had 4 children (Michael, Deborah, Steven, Ronald).

He worked in the Stock Room at Fellows Gear Shaper in Springfield, VT for 38 years, many of those years as the foreman.  Also, he worked at Smith’s Mill in South Londonderry and worked part time at Abbott’s Texaco Station, Peck’s Shell Station, and Center’s Service Center over the years.  On the winter weekends he served as a Professional Ski Patrol at Bromley Mountain for over 16 years.

Arnie volunteered as a member of Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad as an EMT for 18 years and often taught basic first aid courses.  He also served as a member of the Pheonix Volunteer Fire Company in Londonderry.  He was also an active member of Grace Congregational Church in Rutland and would often be found greeting people on Sunday mornings as an usher.

His other passions included being a Little League baseball coach and a scoutmaster for Boy Scouts of American Troop 100. His lifelong passion was dancing. In his youth he was a member of the Shirts and Skirts Square Dance Club and was selected to travel to Nashville, TN to perform.  Throughout his later years, Arnie was a member of the Cast Off 8’s Square Dance Club in Pittsford, VT.  He served as a member of the Vermont State Square Dance Association attending several state conventions and represented Vermont by attending and dancing at several New England Convention events.

Arnie is survived by his special friend Helen Willis of Rutland, VT; son Michael (Karen) Williams of Milford, DE; daughter Deborah Sadowski (Brian Milo) of Rutland, VT; sister Arlene Shattuck of Granville, NY; granddaughters Jeanette (Josh) Swahn of Lee, ME, Amanda Sadowski (Matt Candon) of Pittsford, VT, Ashley Williams (Jesse Foor) of Magnolia, DE, and Leslie (Justin) Pruitt of Felton DE; grandson Timothy Sadowski (Tonya Noble) of Salisbury, VT; 9 great grandchildren Brian Donahue, Hunter Swahn, Lyndsie Swahn, Brooklynn Hill, Blake Sadowski, Reigann Hill, Michael Gabrial, Brylee Sadowski, and Kaleb Condon; sisters-in-law Millie Williams of Bellows Falls, VT, Mary Williams of Andover, VT, and Jane Williams of Londonderry, VT; brothers-in-law Donald Hart of Weston, VT and Keith Harrington of Ticonderoga, NY; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded by both parents; son Steven E. Williams and Ronald J. Williams; brother Charles Williams, Albert Williams, David Williams, Ralph Williams, and Roger Williams; sister Marie Hart and Elise Harrington; and brother-in-law Harold Shattuck.

A funeral service will be held on April 13, 2024, at 1:00pm at Grace Congregational Church, 8 Court St., Rutland, VT. A celebration of life reception to follow in the fellowship hall.

Arrangements are under the direction of Clifford Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Congregational Church.