ROBERT A. ‘BUTCH’ TROMBLEY

BRANDON — Robert A. “Butch” Trombley, age 75, passed peacefully on May 23, 2025, at his home in Brandon, Vt., surrounded by his loved ones, following a short but very courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Butch was born in Proctor on May 13, 1950, the son of Arthur (Birdie) and Mary (Douglas) Trombley. He received his early education in Brandon and graduated from Otter Valley Union High School in 1968. A proud husband of almost 55 years and proud father to a loving son, his presence, laughter, and jokes will be missed beyond measure.

Butch is survived by his wife and high school sweetheart, Sandra (Forrest) Trombley of Brandon, Vt.; son, Travis A. Trombley and his wife Liz (Egbert) Trombley of Renssalaer, N.Y.; his brother, David Trombley and wife Brenda, of North Clarendon, Vt.; and his sister, Mary Adams. He is also survived by several cousins, nieces, and friends that were like family, and his sweet baby girl Bella, a Staffordshire terrier. He was predeceased by his paternal and maternal grandparents, Delore and Julia Trombley and Patrick and Bessie Douglas.

Butch worked summers on a farm, and after graduation worked for a year at General Electric. Following General Electric, he worked at Vermont Marble Company in Proctor and Jaymar Specialty in Poultney. In his early years he worked as a part-time Special for the Sheriff’s Department and Brandon Police Department.

An entrepreneur at heart, he started his own business of Trombley’s Mini Mart & Gun Shop in Brandon and later started Artifacts Arms, making custom gun stocks for competitive shooting sports. He designed and opened Talon Hill Gun Club in Leicester, Vt. Although he continued Artifacts Arms on the side, he started working full time for the State of Vermont Highway Department in May 1999 working out of the Middlebury Division, and later out of the Mendon Traffic Shop. He retired from the State of Vermont in December 2018.

Butch was a perfectionist in all he did. His greatest loves were his family, friends and pets. His passion was clay target shooting, winning many championships over the years in Skeet, trap, and sporting clays. He loved to go fishing and motorcycling. He enjoyed caring for his property and woodworking in his machine shop.

Butch was a firm believer in the Lord, and we know he is at peace with Him in heaven.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday, May 30, at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Good Help, (St. Mary’s) Catholic Church in Brandon. The Rev. Maurice Moreau, Pastor will be the Celebrant. Following the mass the family will receive friends at the Brandon American Legion Post 55 for a time of remembrance. A private graveside committal service and burial will take place in Forest Dale Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Rutland Area Visiting Nurse & Hospice, 7 Albert Cree Drive, Rutland, VT 05701. Arrangements are by Miller & Ketcham Funeral Home, Brandon. ◊