John Calvin Page

John Calvin Page, 91, died on September 7, 2015. John was born in Johnson, Vermont on May 17, 1924 to Arthur and Rebecca (Owen) Page. He grew up during the Depression in a large family of subsistence farmers, attended primary school in Johnson and Hyde Park, and Randolph Agricultural School. He then worked at J.C. Penney's farm.During War Two he served as a sergeant in the field artillery in Europe and saw the horrors of the Nazi death camps. He then was a MP in Vienna after VE day, protecting the populace and art treasures. He attended UVM, where he was a member of the Alpha Zeta fraternity, graduating with a B.S. in agronomy in 1950. He continued his education at Ohio State, graduating with his MS in 1951. After working briefly for the Soil Conservation Service, John became the UVM Agricultural Extension Agent for Agriculture in Bennington County, a position he held from 1952 to 1986. He was a UVM Professor Emeritus, and recently was awarded UVM's Sinclair Cup.John married Marjorie Clark Page in 1956, and they had four children, Sarah, Nancy, Mark, and Paul. hey resided on Elm Street and then Grandview Street in Bennington.During John's working years he was busy promoting sound agricultural practices on Bennington County farms, as well as many other civic activities. Evenings often found him meeting with the Farm Bureau and the Grange. He was the president of the Board of Directors of Merck Forest and was on the board at Camp Ondowa. He served on the State Environmental Board and on the Regional Planning Commission, acted as a poll worker in North Bennington, and served as a Justice of the Peace. He was instrumental in planting the trees that line the streets in downtown Bennington. He was a Past Master at the local Masonic lodge, a Shriner, and a member of the American Legion. He was an active member of the Second Congregational Church, serving on the Board of Trustees. The family hosted many exchange students and countless leaf peepers over the years.John's passion was gardening and planted expansive and immaculate gardens, both at his home, and in the backyards of several friends who let him garden in theirs. He fed his family and the community through the farmers' market and card tables set up by the driveway. A Master Gardener he taught a popular local gardening course, taken by over 2000 people. He wrote extensively including articles published in the Country Journal and Horticulture. He had a column in the Bennington Banner and a radio show on WBTN where his tagline was "Don't forget to drink your milk today." John and Marjorie loved to travel. Pemaquid Point in Bristol, Maine was a favorite family destination. They toured the Canadian Maritimes with the family, and later visited Scotland and Alaska, and drove all over the country's West, enjoying the splendor of our National Parks. After retirement John went on to serve as a Vermont State Representative and Vermont State Senator. He also visited regularly with his Rattlesnake friends.John and Marjorie's children all attended public schools and college and went on to be happily married. When grandchildren came, John and Marjorie took care of the older children in their home for as long as they could and found great joy in doing that. His five grandchildren were the pride of his world.During John's elderly years he acted as his wife's helpmate and, when that was no longer possible, they moved into the Centers for Living and Rehabilitation where they shared a room.John was predeceased by his siblings Gladys Page, Opal (Emil) Whitney, Bessie (Arthur) Nelson, Ullie (James) Newhall, Martha (Cushman) Flagg, Clopha (Earl) Daniels, William Page, Celema Schraeger; cousin Earl Page; in-laws Johanna Page, Paul Clark, Richard Clark, Anita Clark, Jennie Clark, and Barbara Greve; and grandchildren, Victoria and Colleen Page.John is survived by his beloved wife Marjorie, his daughters Sarah Page and husband Robert Wescott, of Duxbury, Vermont, and Nancy Doyle and husband Bill Doyle of Washington, D.C. and his sons, Mark and wife Susan and their children Owen, Grace, and Evan of Bennington, and Paul and wife Lisa and their children Abby and Colin of Annandale, Virginia; also by his brother Charlie Page of North Haverhill, New Hampshire, and in-laws David Schraeger, Douglas (Donna) Clark, Diane (Ernie) Nichols, David (Kathleen) Clark; also by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.The family would like to thank Dianne Lamb, Jo Berry, and Al Ray for their many visits, Toni Degennaro for helping to keep John and Marge in their home for their last three years there, and the generous and supportive staff of the Centers for Living and Rehabilitation.Their kind, attentive care made John's last years good ones.There will be a memorial service at the Second Congregational Church at 11am on October 10, 2015, with a time to visit with the family afterward. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, donations in John's memory may be made to the 4-H Foundation, c/o Hanson Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 957 Bennington, VT 05201. Alternatively, plant a vegetable garden and share its bounty with your neighbors, as John would have you do. There will be a memorial service at the Second Congregational Church in Bennington at 11am on October 10, 2015, with a time to visit with the family afterward. There will be no calling hours