Richard Thompson

Richard Charles Thompson, 94, died peacefully at his home on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.

Richard was born in Greensboro, Vermont, on October 8, 1931, to the late Charles and Inez (Bidwell) Thompson. He was one of eight children. The family moved to Sheffield where he grew up and attended Sheffield Graded School.

In 1952, Richard joined the U.S. Army and served during the Korean War, attaining the rank of Sergeant . He returned home in 1954 with an honorable discharge after serving as an infantryman on the front lines, where he was tasked with night patrols.

On August 11, 1955, he married Huguette Pelletier. They shared more than 61 years of marriage, built a home for their family and raised their four children in Sheffield. Huguette passed away on June 2, 2017, and Richard remained in their home until his death.

Richard worked on a local farm and at the Lyndonville Creamery before beginning a career at Vermont Flexible Tubing, where he worked for more than 30 years. After retiring, he served as assistant sexton alongside Charles Gilman at the Wm. Dexter Cemetery in Sheffield. He also worked part-time at the Sheffield-Wheelock Transfer Station until the age of 89.

Richard enjoyed woodworking, gardening, hunting, fishing, and maintaining a well-tended lawn. When his health allowed, he could still be found on his tractor mowing well into his final weeks. He volunteered at Sheffield Field Day and later, alongside his wife, at the Sheffield Food Pantry. Above all, his greatest joy was his family.

He is survived by his four children: Ernest Thompson and his wife, Karen, of Sheffield, VT; Dianne Lambert and her husband, Maurice, of Bethlehem, NH; Darlene Fadden and her husband, Jim, of Bethlehem, NH; and Marion Thompson Nelson and her partner, Alisa Turner, of Lyndonville, VT. He also leaves six grandchildren: Amanda McClellan, Joseph Nelson, Becky Thompson, Julie Thompson, Tessa Nelson, and Cooper Nelson; one great-grandson, Sawyer McClellan; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his five brothers and two sisters: Lloyd, Delbert “Bud,” Donald, Gerald, Wayland “Babe,” Madeline Robinson, and Thelma Simpson.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at the Wm. Dexter Cemetery in Sheffield, VT. There will be no calling hours at this time.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sheffield Food Pantry, P.O. Box 36, Sheffield, VT 05866.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family through Guibord-Pearsons & Sayles Funeral Home at guibordfh.com.