Walter Bigelow Jr.

Walter Bigelow (“Junior”), 86, of Danville, Vermont, died Saturday morning on December 28, 2024, at his home surrounded by family.

Walter was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, the eldest son of Walter and Avis Bigelow. He grew up in Green Banks Hollow and Harvey’s Hollow of Danville. He attended Danville School.

He married Davine in 1968. Junior and Davine would have celebrated 57 years in February. He worked at True Temper and EHV-Weidmann in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. He retired from EHV-Weidmann in 2003.

Junior enjoyed camping with his family in Ryegate at the Bigelow family camp and in Island Pond. He liked fishing at Ticklenaked Pond and Kieser Pond. Junior and his wife enjoyed attending many of the local fairs in VT and NH, especially camping at Fryeburg, Maine. Watching the horse pulls was a fair favorite activity. He loved tending to his lawn at home and camp and enjoyed his dogs through the years, especially Teddy. You could always find Junior at Thunder Road on Thursdays. Junior was an avid NASCAR fan and loved watching races in Lee, NH, Loudon, NH, Dover, DE, and Oxford, ME. He was a huge Mark Martin fan as evidenced by his extensive memorabilia collection which was only rivaled by his hat collection. For many years, Junior enjoyed hunting and helped his brother-in-law with his Christmas tree business. Back in the day, you could find him grooming the snowmobile trails in the tucker with his kids occasionally tagging along. Most winter months, Junior was snowmobiling the trails he loved, especially with his son, and going to ski-doo club functions. He could fix anything and loved spending time “tinkering” in his garage.

He is survived by his wife, Davine (Donaldson) Bigelow, his son, Brian Bigelow Sr. and his wife Eldora, his daughter, Karen (Bigelow) Graves and her husband Matthew; his three grandchildren: Brian Jr. and his wife Rebecca, Ashley and her fiancé Kyle, and Connor; and his great-grandchildren: Jacob, Cody, and Bryan.

He is also survived by his brothers: Paul Bigelow and his wife Diane, Robert Bigelow and his wife Carolyn, and David Bigelow and his wife Becky, along with his many nieces (Jill, Lisa, Jodi, Paula, Patty, Debbie) and nephews (Roland, Darryl, Scott, Chad, Michael, and Stanley) and extended family.

He is also survived by two special sisters-in-law Lorraine (Donaldson) Bickford and her husband Phil and Gloria (Donaldson) Ruggles and her husband Pete.

He was pre-deceased by his sisters Caroline Kittredge and her husband Duane, Bonnie Corey and her husband Mike, his brothers Donnie Bigelow, Roland LaBounty and his wife Glenna, and his parents.

The family would like to recognize the special care and support provided to Walter by Caledonia Home Health Care & Hospice, Danville Health Center, Dartmouth Hitchcock Memorial Hospital, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, Lincare, and Palliative Care.

A private service will be held by the family in the spring through Guibord-Pearsons & Sayles Funeral Home. To share memories and condolences online visit www.saylesfh.com or mail to the family at 98 Grandview Avenue, Apt. 8, Danville, VT 05828.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Walter Bigelow to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. You can donate either online at www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org or by mail at 230 East Ohio Street, Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois 60611.