Frank Bailey Follett III

Frank Bailey Follett, III, fondly known to many as Poppy, passed away at his home on Elliott Road in Lyndonville on Tuesday, October 28 with his wife and daughter by his side. Poppy was born May 19, 1935 in Montpelier, VT to Frank Bailey and Ruth Conant Follett. He grew up on Baldwin Street, in the shadow of the Capitol building, and attended elementary and high school in Montpelier, graduating in 1954.

Frank heard the call to service at an early age, acting as a Vermont Legislative Page in eighth grade and enlisting in the US Army following graduation from MHS. He served four years in the 11th Airborne Division, serving time in Munich, Germany, and from which he was honorably discharged in 1958. Frank then enrolled in and graduated from Lyndon Teachers’ College, earning a BA in education. Frank and his first wife, Sarah Eaton of Lyndonville, were married in 1959, having met while in college.

He began his 26-year career in education by teaching 6th grade in Danville for five years. During these summers, he continued his service to Vermont with the VT State Police Boat Patrol from 1960 to 1966. In 1967, Frank moved his family to the Panama Canal Zone, Panama, where he taught for the Panama Canal Company and the US Department of Defense Dependent Schools. He and his wife attended a sabbatical year at Oklahoma State University where they both earned Master of Education degrees. They returned to the Canal Zone until their retirement in 1988, when they returned to Vermont to live. He then worked as a ranger in VT State Parks at Maidstone, Crystal Lake, and Brighton until 2002. He also enjoyed a post-retirement job as a para-educator and dorm parent at Lyndon Institute from 1996 until 2011.

Frank loved to see the world, and during several summers the family drove various vehicles, including a 1969 Dodge van, a BMW motorcycle, and a pick-up truck from Panama through Mexico and across the US. They drove one summer from New Orleans to Alaska, and back through Canada to Vermont. Frank also visited China, the Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Europe during his post-retirement years.

Poppy's greatest enjoyment was spending summers at an A-frame built in 1969 at Echo Lake in Charleston. It was known to all as “Camp”. It was a bustling retreat, and many friends and family were welcomed and entertained at this wonderful spot over the 60 years the family owned it.

Poppy enjoyed the outdoors, fishing rivers and lakes in the Central Vermont area from the age of six (once he learned to swim, he was allowed to fish alone); drinking coffee and watching the loons or reading on the deck at camp; and walking his always-present, "Darlings", a series of chocolate labs. Frank was a kind and generous man. He was willing to help a person in need and was always good for a witty one-liner, often making people think, and then laugh. In later years, he successfully propagated and grew African violets and orchids.

Poppy is survived by his wife of 29 years, Barbara (Eaton) Follett, his daughter, Julie Bess Kuk; step-children Frederick Eaton Pogmore (Patty), Concord, VT and Peggy Ann Pogmore, Columbia, CT; step-grandsons Benjamin and Willaim Beaupre, Columbia, CT; his brother, Harrison Joseph Follett of Boerne, TX and his sister-in-law Nancy (Mrs. Richard) Lawrence of Lyndonville, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Frank was predeceased by an infant son, his first wife, Sarah (Eaton) Follett, his parents; his brother Roger C. Follett and wife Ruthie; sister Sonya Follett Fuller and husband Henry; his beloved grandson, Bailey Herman Kuk; brother-in-law Richard Hoyt (Dick) Lawrence; and sister-in-law Barbara L.R. Follett.

The family will hold a memorial gathering in the spring. Arrangements were handled by Guibord-Pearsons Funeral Home in Lyndonville.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Caledonia Home Health Care & Hospice, 161 Sherman Dr, St Johnsbury, VT 05819 or https://www.nchcvt.org/support/donate-today/.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at CaledoniaLifeServices.com