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Joseph W. Wells Sr.
Retired truck driver, World War II veteran
Joseph W. Wells Sr., 75, of Libby Lane, died Thursday, Nov. 28, 2002, at home. He was the husband of Florence (Dubois) Wells. They had been married 54 years.
Born in Bristol, he was a son of the late John and Louise (Dubois) Wells. He lived in Warren for 20 years, previously living in Rehoboth.
Mr. Wells was a long-distance truck driver for many years, retiring in 1989 from UES in North Dartmouth, Mass.
A Navy veteran of World War II, Mr. Wells served in the Asiatic-Pacific as a seaman first class aboard the LST 834. He was a member of the AMVETS in Rehoboth and the LST Association.
He was a member of St. Mark’s Church in Warren.
Besides his wife, he leaves two sons, Joseph Wells Jr. of Rehoboth and John Wells of Warren; three daughters, Florence Ricci and Holly Wells, both of Providence, and Robin Wells of Warren; and three sisters, Louise Ledoux of Bristol, Elizabeth Daniels in North Carolina and Catherine Binkley in Indiana.
His funeral was on Monday, Dec. 2, from William J. Smith & Son Funeral Home, Warren, followed by a service in St. Mark’s Church. He was buried in North Burial Ground in Bristol.
Donations in his memory may be made to Hospice Care of RI, 169 George St., Pawtucket, RI 02860.
Muriel E. Kingsford
Born in Warren
Muriel E. Kingsford, 75, North Attleboro, died Sunday, Nov. 24, 2002, at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro. She was the wife of Harle Kingsford.
Born in Warren, a daughter of the late George and Ethel (Foley) Maddox, she was raised in Warren and also lived in Barrington and Homosassa, Fla., before moving to North Attleboro 25 years ago. She was a graduate of Warren High School.
Mrs. Kingsford was a telephone operator in Warren, and also worked as an operator for Federal Products in Providence, and Hasbro, in Pawtucket, before she retired. She was a former member of Attleboro Little Theater and the Homosassa Lions Club Auxiliary in Florida.
Besides her husband, she leaves a son, Kenneth Kingsford of Attleboro; three daughters, Kathleen Thornton of Cranston, Pamela Fisk of North Attleboro and Patricia O'Donnell of Hyannis, Mass.; a brother, Kenneth Maddox of Warren; a sister, Eleanor Baker of Barrington; 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Nov. 27 in the Sperry & McHoul Funeral Home, Noth Attleboro. Burial followed in the Forest Chapel Cemetery in Barrington.
Antanas Valiuskis
Born in Lithuania
Antanas Valiuskis, 89, of Anthony Road, died Sunday, Dec. 1, 2002, at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence. He was the husband of the late Konstancija "Connie" (Lelesius) Valiuskis.
Born in Luponiai, Lituania, a son of the late Vincentas and Elena (Raugelyte) Valiuskis, he had lived in Barrington for 27 years.
Mr. Valiuskis was a meat inspector for the United States Department of Agriculture for 26 years, retiring in 1981. He was a communicant of St. Casimir Church in Providence.
He leaves a daughter, Gaja Nehring, and a granddaughter, Katherine J. Nehring, both of Barrington.
Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, from the Russell J. Boyle & Son Funeral Home, 331 Smith St., Providence, with a Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. in St. Casimir Church, 350 Smith St.
Daisy M. Patton
Owner and operator of secretarial service
Daisy M. Patton, 87, of Wampanoag Trail, East Providence, formerly of Touisset Road in Warren, died Friday, Nov. 29, 2002, in a car accident in Barrington.
Born in East Providence, she was the daughter of the late William G. Patton and the late Grace E. (Green) Patton. She was the sister of the late Arthur and Russell Patton.
Ms. Patton was the owner and operator of Daisy Mae’s Secretarial Service in Warren for many years, before retiring in 1990.
She leaves four sisters, Beatrice Contois of Warren, Lula Vitecha of Barrington, Avis Jordan of Bristol, Elaine Congdon of Bristol and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be private. Arrangements have been made by the Cremation Society of R.I.
John S. Getch
Lived in town for six years
John S. Getch, 69, of Bowden Avenue, died Saturday, Nov. 30, 2002, at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence. He was the husband of Elizabeth Holochwost.
Born in Swoyerville, Pa., a son of the late Stephen and Anna (Mizenka) Getch, he had lived in Barrington for six years, living previously in Sandwich and Mashpee, Mass.
Mr. Getch was a retired self-employed attorney and banker. His interests included fishing and golf.
Besides his wife, he leaves a son, Christopher Getch of Chicago, Ill.; a daughter, Holly Getch Clarke of Sommerville, Mass.; and a sister, Dorothy Ryder of Gaithersburg, Mass.
Funeral and burial services were private.
Arrangements were by the Smith Mason Funeral Home in Riverside.
Ernest L. Priestman
Engineer, formerly of Warren
Ernest Leslie Priestman, 84, of Belleair Bluffs, Fla., formerly of Warren, died Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2002, at the General Congregate Living Home in Seminole, Fla. He was the husband of Dorothy Helen (Pickett) Priestman. They had been married 55 years.
Born in Philadelphia, Pa., he was a son of the late Ernest and Lillian Priestman. He lived in Warren before moving to Florida in 1988.
A graduate of Northeastern University, Mr. Priestman was an engineer, working with a consortium of U.S. oil companies in the Middle East from 1957 until the late 1970s. In the 1980s, he served as national director for the International Executive Service Corps in West Africa.
A member of the Sons of the American Revolution, he and was also a member of the Tri-City Shrine Club in Largo, Fla., and the Egypt Shrine Temple in Tampa, Fla. Mr. Priestman was a member of the Church of Isles, Congregational, in Indian Rocks Beach, Fla.
Besides his wife, he leaves a son, George Pickett Priestman of Tiverton; a brother, Vernon Priestman of Dunello, Fla., and two grandchildren.
A memorial service for Mr. Priestman will be held at Hope Congregational Church in East Providence in the spring.
Sandra Rhea
Leaves family in Portsmouth
Sandra (Phillip) Rhea, 80, passed away Monday, Nov. 25, 2002, in Fort Myers, Fla. She was the wife of the late George Rhea, formerly of Portsmouth.
Born on Feb. 24, 1922, Mrs. Rhea leaves three sons, Larry Rhea of Portsmouth, George "Mack" Rhea of Boston, and Jim Rhea of Florida; four grandchildren, Tiffaney and Kristen Rhea, both of Portsmouth, Bobby Rhea of Portsmouth and Gregory Pier of Fall River; and three daughters-in-law.
Mrs. Rhea will be cremated in Florida and a memorial service will be held at a later date in her church in Florida.
Edward A. Perry Jr.
Stonemason, enjoyed auto racing
Edward A. Perry Jr., 34, of 9 Third St., Portsmouth, died Friday, Dec. 13, 2002, at the home of a friend on Brayton Road in Tiverton.
Born in Fall River, the son of Edward A. "Papa Smurf" Perry Sr. of Tiverton and Linda O. (Euscher) Perry of Portsmouth, he had lived in Tiverton most of his life.
A mason known for his excellent walls, fireplaces and other stone projects, Mr. Perry had been employed by Rhode Island Stonescapes, Little Compton, and Old World Stonecraft, Portsmouth.
He was an enthusiast of all-terrain vehicles and drag-racing and enjoyed spending time at Seekonk Speedway.
Besides his parents, he leaves a sister, Rebecca Lynn Perry of Jewett City, Conn.; a nephew, Arthur F. Pine II; close friends Jameson and Carol Litchfield of Tiverton; and aunts, uncles, and cousins.
His funeral was held Monday, Dec. 16, 2002, from the Auclair Funeral Home, Fall River, followed by cremation.
Grace L. Chafee
Lifelong resident of Bristol,
St. Michael’s parishioner
Grace L. (Battcher) Chafee, 93, of Metacom Avenue in Warren, died Saturday, March 2, 2002, at Rhode Island Hospital. She was the wife of the late Russell Chafee.
Born in Bristol and a lifelong resident, she was a daughter of the late Albert and Emma Jane (Carter) Battcher.
Before her retirement, she worked as a self-employed home care assistant, assisting with house cleaning and cooking. She was a member of St. Michael’s Church.
She leaves several nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Orrin, Frank, and Albert Battcher, Dora Meiggs and Elsie Battcher.
A graveside service will take place on Friday, March 8, at 11 a.m. at the North Burial Ground, Hope Street. Arrangements are by Connery- Smith Funeral Home.
Marilyn B. Tripp
Adams House nurse, lived in Westport 30 years
Marilyn B. (Wordell) Tripp, 59, of Westport died unexpectedly Saturday, Dec. 14, 2002, at Charlton Memorial Hospital. She was the wife of the late Grover J. Tripp.
Born in Acushnet, she was the daughter of the late Leroy and Marion (Faber) Wordell. She had lived in Westport for the past 30 years.
Mrs. Tripp was a member of the Westport Point United Methodist Church.
She was a graduate of Dartmouth High School and graduated in 1965 from the former Union Hospital Nursing School, Fall River. She was employed as a registered nurse by Adams House, Fall River.
Mrs. Tripp was a member of Cortez Allen Chapter 161, Order of Eastern Star, Westport. She loved spending time with her family.
She leaves three sons, Thomas R. Tripp, Andrew J. Tripp and Daniel I. Tripp, all of Westport; a brother, David J. Peters of Fairhaven; a sister, Judith A. Boys of Ocala, Fla.; four granddaughters, Ashley, Hannah, Lee-ann and Rebecca; and several nieces and nephews.
The late Ann Peters, who passed away on Dec. 6, 2002, raised Mrs. Tripp as a daughter.
Her funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, at Potter Funeral Home, 81 Reed Road.
Virginia F. Shurtleff
Avid volunteer, golf club member
Virginia F. (Zielinski) Shurtleff, 80, of Spring Lane, Little Compton, died Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002, at her residence. She was the wife of the late David J. Shurtleff.
Born on March 7, 1922, in New Bedford, Mass., she was a daughter of the late Anthony S. Zielinski and Stella (Pabis) Zielinski. She spent her youth in New Bedford and lived in Providence and Fayetteville, N.Y., for several years before moving to Little Compton in 1984.
She graduated from New Bedford High School in 1939 and was a communicant of St. Catherine of Sienna Church in Little Compton.
An avid golfer, Mrs. Shurtleff was a member of the Sakonnet Golf Club and a former member of the New Bedford Country Club. She was a member of the Little Compton Garden Club, volunteered her time at St. Luke’s Hospital and enjoyed reading to children in Little Compton schools.
She leaves a brother, Anthony S. Zielinski of South Dartmouth, Mass., a sister, Lillian Imhof of Centerville, Mass., and several nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Dorothy F. Remillard and Richard A. Zielinski.
A service of thanksgiving and tribute was held Saturday, Dec. 14 in St. Catherine of Sienna Church. Burial was private. Memorial donations may be made to the Brownell Library, P.O. Box 146, Little Compton, RI 02837.
