GEORGE ‘BILL’ W. WHITNEY JR.

MONKTON — George “Bill” W. Whitney Jr. of Monkton, Vt., passed away on Nov. 3, 2024, at the age of 87, at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vt.

He was born in Boston, Mass., on March 22, 1937, the son of George W. Whitney and Marion Mitchell Whitney. Following graduation from the Brown and Nichols School in Cambridge, Mass., he received his B.A. in Psychology from Brown University in Providence, R.I., in l959. After several successful years in the business world, he and his family came to Middlebury, Vt., in 1974. He retired from Middlebury College as the Director of Operations in 2002, having been responsible for many building expansions and major renovations on campus, as well as the daily operations of the College.

In his youth, George was a three- sport athlete and involved in the Boy Scouts and Order of DeMolay. At Brown University he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.

He was raised as a Master Mason in Union Lodge No 2. in Middlebury. He then obtained dual membership in St. Paul’s Lodge No. 25 in Brandon, Vt., where he served as Worshipful Master in his lodge and as the Worthy Grand Patron, Order of the Eastern Star in Vermont during 2002 and 2003.

George was an active member in The United Methodist Church of North Ferrisburgh, Vt., where he was involved in several committees. Sunday mornings before the church service he would be found ringing the bell outside of the sanctuary with the help of the Sunday Schoolchildren. He took great pleasure in helping the children, with smiles and words of encouragement, during this bell-ringing time!

A passion for ice hockey led him to participate in high school and college, followed by many years of coaching in the Middlebury Youth Hockey Association. George served as coach of the undefeated Middlebury High School Club Team in the Central Vermont Hockey League during three seasons, and the team won the Division II State Championship in 1979.

He leaves his “bride” of 63 years, Barbara Wallace Whitney; daughters, Kristen Ann Porter and husband, Bill of Monkton, Vt., and Kimberly Pease of South Burlington, Vt.; son, Todd W. Whitney of South Burlington, Vt.; son-in-law, Scott Pease of Shelburne, Vt.; grandchildren Katelyn Pelkey and husband Keith Coakley, Jacob Goldstein and wife Erika, Megan Pease and partner Joe Ybarra, Hannah Pease and partner Spencer Koller, Joplin Whitney, and Angus Whitney; great-grandchildren Raea Coakley, Maya Coakley, Lilly Sweeney and Joey Ybarra; sister-in-law Marilyn Shepherd and husband Billy; nephew Jeffrey Shepherd and wife Suzie; and niece Nicole Rolinson and husband Miller.

He was predeceased by his parents and two sisters.

A celebration of his life will be held Tuesday, Nov. 19, at the North Ferrisburgh United Methodist Church, at 11 a.m., followed by a reception.

Contributions in his memory may be made to The North Ferrisburgh Methodist Church, 227 Old Hollow Road, North Ferrisburgh, VT 05473 or The Order of the Eastern Star C/O Heather Hinckley 130 Chalet Heights, Unit 1, Box 5, Mendon, VT 05701.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Sanderson-Ducharme Funeral Home. Online condolences at www.sandersonfuneralservice.com.  ◊