Josephine M. Searles, 80

ASCUTNEY — Josephine M. Searles, 80, a longtime resident of Ascutney, passed away Sunday morning, Sept. 25, 2016, at her home in Ascutney.

She was born March 9, 1936, in Corinth, Vermont, the daughter of John and Edith (Billingham) Dunbar. She received her education in Bradford, Vermont. She married Edwin Sprague in White River Junction, Vermont on July 5, 1954 and they divorced in 1980. She married Robert Searles in Springfield on July 10, 1982.

Josephine was employed at the former J.J. Newberry’s in White River Junction and later at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company from 1964 until the plant closed in 1987. She was most recently employed at American Brush Company in Claremont from 1989 until her retirement in 2001.

She was a life member of the Windsor American Legion Post #25 Auxiliary. She was fond of ceramics, gardening and cooking. She especially enjoyed feeding and watching birds and chipmunks.
Mr. Searles passed away in 1997. She was also predeceased by her parents; one brother, John Dunbar Jr.; and by two sisters, Madeline Landry and Norma Debarney.

Survivors include three daughters, Lorraine Villimere of Milton, Vermont, Debra Sprague of Claremont and Brenda Johnson and her husband, Peter, of Windsor; one son, Brian Sprague and his wife, Carol; of Hartland; one sister, Betty Blake and her husband, Richard, of Newport; three brothers, Robert Dunbar of Claremont, Paul Dunbar of Concord, New Hampshire and George Dunbar of White River Junction, Vermont; nine grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at the Hartland Village Cemetery in Hartland. Rev. Susan Langle will officiate. A reception for family and friends will follow at Josephine’s home in Ascutney.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Mt. Ascutney Hospital Oncology Unit at 289 County Road, Windsor, VT 05089.

The Knight Funeral Home in Windsor is entrusted with the arrangements. Condolences may be made to her family in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com.