William Skidmore

William Skidmore, 81, a resident of Sandgate Road, passed away Wednesday December 29, 2021 at his home surrounded by his wife and sister. William was born in Sandgate on December 1, 1940, the son of the late Harry Skidmore, Sr. and Jennie Maki. He attended the one room school house in Sandgate from first to eighth grade, the last year it was open. He went to work at an early age mowing lawns and in his teens worked on the Sandgate Road Crew, even working with dynamite. He graduated from Arlington High School and then joined the United States Army for 3 years. He did his basic training at Fort Dix, NJ, then 2nd Ordnance Company at Fort Meade, Maryland. He spent time at Camp Pickett, VA and was a prisoner detail guard at Fort Meade and worked burial detail. He started school and pulled out for Cuban Missile Crisis. He was sent to Opalaca Air Force Base and Homestead Air Force Base in Florida. After his service he returned to Sandgate and worked for the Hale Company in East Arlington. He attended carpentry school for 40 weeks in Bennington, VT. He worked as a carpenter for Fred Frost, Val Erb, William Szirbic and Ted Hoyt and then self-employed building houses, additions and furniture. He met the love of his life and his best friend Phyllis Foote, got married April 5, 1975 and built their home with friends and his brother Harry. He was a member of the Sandgate United Methodist Church and loved hunting, fishing, listening to country music and gardening. William is survived by his wife Phyllis Skidmore of Sandgate, his sister Eleanor LaCross of Sandgate, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Thomas and Pamela Foote of Myrtle Beach, SC and nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his brother Harry “Sonny” Skidmore, Jr. Funeral services for William will be held Thursday January 6, 2022 at 3pm at Hanson-Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home Arlington Chapel, Route 7A Arlington, VT. Visitation at the funeral home will be held from 2-3pm one hour prior to the service. If friends desire, memorial gifts in William’s memory mat be made to the Sandgate Church or the American Lung Association, c/o Hanson-Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home Arlington Chapel, P.O. Box 528 Arlington, VT 05250.