Doris V. (Bottachairi) Wing, 91, of Connecticut, formerly of New Hampshire, passed away peacefully and quietly on Monday, March 18, 2024, with the love of family near at the Griffin Hospital in Derby, CT.
She was born a daughter to the late Virginia (Vernacatola) and Pietro Bottachairi on July 21, 1932 in Derby, CT. She was educated within the local Connecticut school systems.
Doris married Gerald W. Wing in Maryland. They were married for 40 years until Gerald passed in 1991.
One of Doris’ first jobs, which she enjoyed, was as a lifeguard for the Derby Recreation Center. In order to become a certified lifeguard, she had to swim across, and back again, the Housatonic River in Derby. Doris spent many years working for Vic Manolfi as a Floral Manager, and she also worked for David Manolfi as a Supervisor at Foam Rubber Products. Doris and her sisters helped out as servers at the AM Club in Derby.
Doris’ main passion was cooking, when she wasn’t in the kitchen cooking or baking, you could find her watching cooking shows on television. She deeply loved her family and was always the first one to be caring for a sick family member. She, along with family and friends, have many great memories of family gatherings under the grapevine at Camptown.
Doris is survived by two of her three children, Richard A. Wing of North Carolina, and James M. Wing and his wife Jane (Stowell) of Gilsum, her sister, Carol Lee, and her husband John of Lafeyette, GA. She is also survived by five of her seven grandchildren, Clinton Wing, Jacob Wing, Sharon Klapyk, Richard Wing Jr., and Eric Wing, nine great-grandchildren, along with many cousins, nieces, nephews extended family, and friends. Doris was predeceased by her parents, her husband, son Gerald W. Wing Jr., five siblings, Lucy Filiponi, Pietro Bottachairi Jr., Angelo Bottachairi, and Sylvia Ellison. She was also predeceased by two grandchildren, Wesley Wing and Matthew Wing, and a great-grandchild, Casey Wing.
Calling hours will be from 10:00 am to 11:00 am Friday, April 5, 2024, at the Cheshire Family Funeral Chapel, 44 Maple Ave. Keene, NH. 03431. With a burial to follow at a later date at the Evergreen Cemetery, 60 Forest Lake Rd. Winchester, NH. 03470. All services are under the care of Cheshire Family Funeral Chapel and Crematories, Keene, NH. 03431. www.cheshirefamilyfh.com.
Richard had several careers starting with the paper boy at the age of 14 years old and then the Winchester Highway Department. He once owned and operated a garage in Keene called “Dick’s Gulf Service” on the corner of Island and West St. He worked for O’Brian Construction for a couple of years and finally ended working at FiberMark paper mill in Brattleboro for 32 years. He retired from FiberMark in 2002 ending his career as their Maintenance Foreman. Richard was a lifelong member of the Winchester Fire Department raised to the rank of Chief which he held for several years. He was also a State Fire Warden. He rarely missed work even after spending most of some nights on a rescue or fire call.
After retiring as Chief, he continued to serve the Town of Winchester with the Emergency Management Department. He and his wife Shirley were integral part in starting the EMT unit in Winchester in the 70s. When he wasn’t fighting fires, performing rescues, or training new recruits you might find him coaching youth baseball at the ELMM Center.
going on Sunday drives. Richard could be counted on to always have a flashlight, saw, first aid kit, winch, or fire extinguisher on hand. He was always able to fix anything and ready to help anyone in a time of need. Richard was an accomplished welder and often called out to thaw water pipes with his portable welder. If someone called him for help, he would jump up and head out the door.
Andrew “Andy” R. Symington, 36, a resident of Fitzwilliam and formerly of Jaffrey, passed away unexpectedly in the comfort of his home on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, with the love of family near.
On January 31, 2019, Andrew exchanged vows with the love of his life, Frances C. Sheldon. They had a simple service at their home in Fitzwilliam with family celebrating them.
Along with working, Andrew enjoyed working on the house, refurbishing furniture, and working on his vegetable garden. Andrew loved to take long walks with his dog Conrad, and spend time with his family.
Ruth H. (Crewe) Cobb, 89, of Keene, NH died peacefully surrounded by her loving family on March 16, 2024. Ruth was born on June 21, 1934, in Franklin, NH to the late Emma (Densmore) and John Crewe. As a teenager, she joined the Hardy Hill 4-H Club in Lebanon, NH where she met her future husband, Wesley Cobb, also of Lebanon. They were wed in Lebanon in 1956 and were happily married for 67 years.
In 1972, Ruth and Wes started the Lucky Leaf 4-H Club in Keene, which earned many awards. She taught countless youth to cook, sew and craft. Ruth and Wes were involved in Cheshire County 4-H activities including the Cheshire Fair where Ruth was a project judge and helped run the 4-H Food booth. Ruth guided 4-H members in numerous community service projects. Ruth and Wes hosted children from New York City through the Fresh Air Fund and from Japan through the 4-H program. In 1980, the Cobb family was awarded the Cheshire County 4-H Family of the Year. Ruth was awarded the 4-H Volunteer of the Year in 1985 and 2001. The impact Ruth had was wide and lasting.
The family enjoyed many camping trips when the children were young. Later, Ruth and Wes loved to travel in their RV and eventually visited every state except Hawaii. Ruth and Wes also traveled to Japan and visited with the exchange students that they had hosted years before.
